How did the development of slavery impact the economic growth of the
colonies? Which colonies had slaves
Introduction
Slaves were people (blacks at the time)
that did work that we (whites) didn’t
want to do. The first slaves arrived
in1619 increasing the numbers in
plantation crops such as cotton, tobacco,
rice, wheat and sugar cane. Even though
only about 25% of the British colonies
owned slaves, they had a big impact on
the economic growth of the colonies and
not just in the southern colonies. Slaves
protested their freedom, but little did
they gain. As well as tending the crop
slaves also tended the livestock.
What jobs did slaves have
There were three types of slaves; house
slaves, plantation slaves, and skilled
craftsmen. Skilled craftsmen had
important jobs like, cobblers, tailors,
shoemakers, blacksmith and silversmith.
House slaves had many types of jobs too,
like taking care of the children, cooking
and doing everyday house chores.
Plantation slaves had jobs to like a skilled
craftsman worked at a plantation as well
as shoemakers and cobblers. Some slaves
on the plantation just worked in the
fields and tended the crop and the
animals some slaves furthermore
weaved.
Slaves
being
captured
A Dutch ship brought a boat load of
slaves from Africa to Jamestown in
the colony of Virginia. These slaves
were the first slaves. They were
brought to the “New World” in 1619.
The slaves were needed on the huge
tobacco plantations of the southern
colonies. All the colonies had slaves.
In 1641 Massachusetts legalized
slavery. Ten years later throughout
the north slavery became legal. In
1663 in Gloucester County, VA slaves
held their first rebellion in the
colonies. Later in 1676 black slaves
and black and white indentured
servants banded together to
participate in Bacon's Rebellion.
Why did the colonies need slaves
The colonies needed slaves because
farming was so big and tobacco
was hard work no one wanted to
do it so they had to force slaves to
do it. Also since the
farm/plantations had farm animals
the masters might as well make
them do that too. The population
was small so they needed more
people to do work because they
wanted to make a prophet/ bigger
prophet and slaves or indentured
servants were the only choice. Plus
you only paid slaves once so you
could get an incredible deal. On top
of that you could make the slaves
do whatever you want or you can
threaten them.