Slavery in Different States in 17-18th Century

As slavery became a major part of colonial America’s economy, the lives of blacks, free and unfree, would be affected in a number of ways. For slavesand free people of color, where they liveddetermined what rights they would be given. For slaves in Dutch, New Netherland (now New York) during the 17th century, slaves could marryand even be rewarded for their long or hark-working service with freedom. However, this freedom came with a catch: freed slaves would have to pay annual duesto the Dutch West India Company and their children would not be able to share their parent’s free status.

In Virginia, policies were out in place in response to concerns regarding labor shortages. In 1662, Virginia laid out a law that stated that the status of a child would depend on the mother’s status: if a slave mother was still under slavery, her child would remain a slave as well. Slaves in Virginia would also be stripped of the freedom to assemble, freedom to carry weapons, and the freedom of movement without a certificate froma master. When New York fell under British practices, slaves would be subjected to strict laws. In 1706, a law was put in place stating that the baptism of a slave would have no effect on their status as a slave and that a child’s status would follow the status of his or her mother. The law also made clear that a slave could not be a competent witness in a case involving a white or black freeman. The lives of slaves did not improve shortly after. In 1712, an insurrection took place in which 23 armed slaves set fire to a slaveholder’s house and killed nine whites and injured six.

21slaves were found guilty and executed, and on December 10, 1712, a law was put in place that made arson punishable by death, restricted slave manumissions, and made it so that any free black, Indian, or mulatto would not be able to hold any land, houses, tenements, or Hereditaments. In New England, slaves and free people of color would not have to deal with such strict laws. Slaves in New England were allowed to marry in the late 17thcentury, but this institution would be negatively affected by the fact that some married slaves were owned by different masters.

Slaves were also given the ability to testify in court, sue, and petition for their freedom. Free blacks also enjoyed lives that involveddancing, playing games, and sharing stories. In French Louisiana, some free blacks got to inflict public punishment and even carry out executions as was the case with Louis Congo. When Louisiana fell into the hands of the Spanish, slaves were given greater access to freedom compared to when Louisiana was under the French. Free men of color were also given the ability to form militias with the stipulationthat they follow sumptuary laws that required that they wear distinctively inferior clothing than that of whites.