Name ___________________________
Unit 1 – Indentured Servitude and Slavery in Colonial America
Learning Targets –
C.1.4 – I can trace the development of indentured servitude and slavery during the colonial period.
S.1.5 – I can analyze basic primary source documents.
Document 1
And when we are sick there is nothing to comfort us; for since I came out of the ship I never ate anything but peas, and
loblollie (that is, water gruel). As for deer or venison I never saw any since I came into this land. There is indeed some
fowl, but we are not allowed to go and get it, but must work hard both early and late for a mess of water gruel and a
mouthful of bread and beef. A mouthful of bread for a penny loaf must serve for four men which is most pitiful. [You
would be grieved] if you did know as much as I [do], when people cry out day and night – Oh! That they were in
England without their limbs – and would not care to lose any limb to be in England again, yea, though they beg from
door to door. For we live in fear of the enemy every hour, yet we have had a combat with them … and we took two
alive and made slaves of them. . .
And I have nothing to comfort me, nor is there nothing to be gotten here but sickness and death, except [in the event]
that one had money to lay out in some things for profit. But I have nothing at all–no, not a shirt to my back but two
rags, nor clothes but one poor suit, nor but one pair of shoes, but one pair of stockings, but one cap, [and] but two
bands [collars]. My cloak is stolen by one of my fellows, and to his dying hour [he] would not tell me what he did with
it. . . But I am not half [of] a quarter so strong as I was in England, and all is for want of victuals; for I do protest unto
you that I have eaten more in [one] day at home than I have allowed me here for a week. You have given more than
my day’s allowance to a beggar at the door. . .
[I] saith that if you love me you will redeem me suddenly, for which I do entreat and beg. And if you cannot get the
merchants to redeem me for some little money, then for God’s sake get a gathering or entreat some good folks to lay
out some little sum of money. . .
I know if you did but see me, you would weep to see me. . . Wherefore, for God’s sake, pity me. I pray you to
remember my love to all my friends and kindred.
Richard Frethorne, April 1623
Explain the author’s argument, and why THIS person wrote THIS document at THIS time.
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What are the features of Document 1 that can be used to categorize it as economic, social or political in nature?
Document 2
17th Century Tobacco Prices
Using your pen and your highlighter, take 1 minute to analyze and annotate the image.
What are the features of Document 2 that can be used to categorize it as economic, social or political in nature?
Document 3
Virginia, 1639
Act X. All persons except Negroes are to be provided with arms and ammunitions or be fined at the pleasure of the
governor and council.
Maryland, 1664
That whatsoever free-born [English] woman shall intermarry with any slave. . . shall serve the master of such slave
during the life of her husband; and that all the issue of such free-born women, so married shall be slaves as their fathers
were.
Virginia, 1667
Act III. Whereas some doubts have arisen whether children that are slaves by birth. . . should by virtue of their baptism
be made free, it is enacted that baptism does not alter the condition to the person as to his bondage or freedom; masters
freed from this doubt may more carefully propagate Christianity by permitting slaves to be admitted to that sacrament.
Virginia, 1682
Act I. It is enacted that all servants. . . which [sic] shall be imported into this country either by sea or by land, whether
Negroes, Moors [Muslim North Africans], mulattoes or Indians who and whose parentage and native countries are not
Christian at the time of their first purchase by some Christian. . . and all Indians, which shall be sold by our neighborign
Indians, or any other trafficing with us for slaves, are hereby adjudged, deemed and taken to be slaves to all intents and
purposes any law, usage, or custom to the contrary notwithstanding.
Early colonial laws regarding slavery
Explain the author’s argument, and why THIS person wrote THIS document at THIS time.
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What are the features of Document 3 that can be used to categorize it as economic, social or political in nature?
Document 4
We thought it our duty . . . to set forth in this our Declaration, the true state and condition of this country in general
and our particular . . . disabilit[y] to . . . [engage in] war at the time of this invasion [by the Dutch]. . . . [We] therefore
do most humbly beseech your majesty and your most honorable council to consider that Virginia is intersected by so
many vast rivers as makes more miles to defend than we have men of trust to defend them. For by our nearest
computation we leave at our backs as many servants (besides Negroes) as there are freemen to defend the shores and
all our frontiers [against] the Indians. . . . [This] gives men fearful apprehensions of the danger they leave their estates
and families in, while they are drawn from their houses to defend the borders. Also at least one third [of the freemen
available for defense] are single freemen (whose labor will hardly maintain them) or men much in debt, . . . [whom]
we may reasonably expect upon any small advantage the enemy may gain upon us, . . . [to defect] to them in hopes of
bettering their condition by sharing the plunder of the country with them.
Governor Berkeley and His Council on Their Inability to Defend Virginia Against a Dutch Attack, December 1673
Explain the author’s argument, and why THIS person wrote THIS document at THIS time.
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What are the features of Document 4 that can be used to categorize it as economic, social or political in nature?
Document 5
This Indenture Witnesses that Hannah Toby Indian Woman of So[uth] Kingstown of...ye Colony of Rhode Island...has put her son
Javin Toby, Molatto of her own free will & accord an apprentice or servant of John Steadman of South Kingstown yeoman & to
Purthany his Wife...after the manner of an apprentice from of Day of ye date hereof for and during ye Term of fifteen years & five
Months which Will be complete on ye Seventh day of June 1763. During all which Term of apprentice of servant his master &
mistress faithfully shall serve their secrets keep their Lawful Commands of labor & every Where obey he shall do no damage to
his Master & Mistress nor see it done by others. Without giving notice thereof to his Master & Mistress he shall not waste his
Master & Mistresses goods nor lend them unlawfully to any. He shall not use any unlawful games nor contract matrimony nor
commit Fornication During s[ai]d Term he shall not absent himself either by day or by night Without Leave nor Haunt Taverns ale
Houses...but in all things behave as a faithful servant out to do during the s[ai]d term and his s[ai]d Master & Mistress...by their
Parts are to find and provide sufficient apparel meat Drink Washing & Lodging Suitable for Such an apprentice. During s[ai]d
Term at ye Expiration thereof to Dismiss Him With one new Suit of apparel fitting for his body besides his usual wearing Clothes.
Apprenticeship contract, 1747
What are the features of Document 4 that can be used to categorize it as economic, social or political in nature?
Document 6
Georgia Newspaper, 1774
Using your pen and your highlighter, take 1 minute to analyze and annotate the image.
What are the features of Document 6 that can be used to categorize it as economic, social or political in nature?