2.1 Slavery and Society

Explain the TWO philosophies of loading a slave ship

"LOOSE PACKING" provided for fewer slaves per ship in the hopes that a greater percentage of the cargo would arrive alive. "TIGHT PACKING" captains believed that more slaves, despite higher casualties, would yield a greater profit at the trading block.

Describe the subsistence patterns of West Africans

Although primarily agricultural, West Africans held many occupations. Some were hunters and fishers. Merchants traded with other African communities, as well as with Europeans and Arabs. Some West Africans mined gold, salt, iron, copper or even diamonds.

How many slaves populated the colonies by the turn of the 18th century

As British colonists became convinced that Africans best served their demand for labor, importation increased. By the turn of the eighteenth century AFRICAN SLAVES numbered in the tens of thousands in the British colonies. Before the first shots are fired at Lexington and Concord, they totaled in the hundreds of thousands.

How did Crispus Attucks achieve his freedom?

Crispus Attucks, and man of African and Native American descent, achieved freedom by running away.

What did slavery replace as the main source of labor in the colonies?

Despite the complete lack of a slave tradition in mother England, slavery gradually replaced indentured servitude as the chief means for plantation labor in the Old South.

What did African traders receive in return for their human cargo?

Doctors would inspect the slaves before purchase from the African trader to determine which individuals would most likely survive the voyage. In return, the traders would receive guns, gunpowder, rum or other spirits, textiles or trinkets.

THREE West African empires

Ghana Mali Songhay

What were the hallmarks of African Civilization before European contact?

Hallmarks of African Civilization were powerful kingdoms, beautiful sculpture, complex trade, tremendous wealth, and centers for advanced learning.

Household slaves

Large plantations might also have HOUSEHOLD SLAVES. These domestic servants would prepare the master's meals, tend the house, prepare for guests, and sometimes look after the master's children. Household slaves often were treated better than plantation slaves. They usually ate better and were in some cases considered part of the extended family.

Overseers

Larger plantations usually brought harsher working conditions. OVERSEERS might be assigned to monitor the work. As they had little connection to the slave, they tended to treat the slaves more brutally.

How were the lives of small farm slaves different from that of plantation slaves?

Slaves that lived on smaller farms often enjoyed closer relations with their masters than plantation slaves. It stands to reason that a farmer working side by side with four slaves might develop closer bonds than a planter who owns four hundred. This sometimes, but not always, led to kinder treatment.

Driver

Sometimes a slave, called a DRIVER, would be enticed into holding this position. Accordingly, drivers were hated in the slave community.

Describe the "Middle Passage"

The "MIDDLE PASSAGE," which brought the slaves from West Africa to the West Indies, might take three weeks. Unfavorable weather conditions could make the trip much longer. Slaves were fed twice daily and some captains made vain attempts to clean the hold at this time. Air holes were cut into the deck to allow the slaves breathing air, but these were closed in stormy conditions. The bodies of the dead were simply thrust overboard. And yes, there were uprisings.

What was the center of African life?

The center of African life in ancient and modern times is the family. Since Africans consider all individuals who can trace roots to a common ancestor, this family often comprised hundreds of members.

When did the first Africans arrive Jamestown and how were they treated in the colonies?

The first African Americans that arrived in Jamestown in 1619 on a Dutch trading ship were not slaves, nor were they free. They served time as indentured servants until their obligations were complete. Although these lucky individuals lived out the remainder of their lives as free men, the passing decades would make this a rarity.

What does chattel slavery refer to and what was the priority of this traditional form of slavery?

The first image that comes to mind when considering CHATTEL SLAVERY is plantation life. Of course the CULTIVATION of the planter's crop was the priority. Beyond these duties, slaves might also be expected to clear land, build a fence, or perform other odd jobs as the circumstances might dictate.

What caused the diaspora of African peoples? Describe it.

The impending slave trade brings ruin to West Africa. Entire villages disappear. Guns and alcohol spread across the continent. Tribes turn against other tribes as the once-fabled empires fade into history.

How did slavery function in Africa prior to European contact?

The slavery known to Africans prior to European contact did not involve a belief in inferiority of the slaves. Most slaves in West Africa were captured in war. Although legally considered property, most African slaves were treated as family members. Their children could not be bought or sold. Many achieved high honors in their communities, and freedom by manumission was not uncommon. Plantation slavery was virtually unknown on the African continent.

manumission

the voluntary freeing of a slave by the master.