World Slavery and The American Third System

Introduction

It is a commonly held belief that slavery was a direct result of racism and that it appeared suddenly. In reality, racism developed gradually and was the consequence of certain business and economic decisions. Understanding the historical context is crucial to grasp the complexity of this issue.

'World Slavery and The American Third System'

Colonial America: Systems of Production

In Colonial America, there were three contending systems of production in labor. The first was the plantation system, characterized by large farms and the use of hired or enslaved laborers. Another system was family-based farming in New England and the Middle Colonies, primarily producing for the family and local community. The third system of production was the artisan crafts, which included 100 or more crafts such as carpentry and printing (Smith, 1998).

Forms of Labor

The three main forms of European (White) labor were voluntary, semi-voluntary, and involuntary. Voluntary laborers were indentured or went of their own free will. Indentures agreed to work without pay for a certain period. Semi-voluntary laborers were mostly young apprentices, while involuntary laborers were transportees (Johnson, 2001).

Jamestown and New England: Different Experiences

Two different experiences in Colonial America took place: one in Jamestown, Chesapeake, and the other in New England. Jamestown was founded as a profit-making corporation with "God, Glory, Gold" as its slogan. However, it turned out to be a total disaster. Only 60 people survived in 1609 out of the 800 who arrived in 1607, primarily due to starvation and poor relations with the Indians (Brown, 2005).

Tobacco's popularity helped Jamestown to make money but created economic problems such as labor shortages. Chesapeake could either exploit indentures or encourage immigrants. Surviving settlers claimed land, leading to inequalities and rebellions like Bacon's Rebellion in 1676. Nathaniel Bacon, a poor farmer, united poor White and Black farmers against the rich planters. This rebellion highlighted the need for either slavery or higher pay (Taylor, 2010).

In contrast, New England was founded by Puritans who aimed to build a society rather than make money. In 1630, J. Winthrop brought 700 people from England, and 600 survived the first winter. Unlike Jamestown, New England settlers sought a Christian utopia, tightly controlled land distribution, and avoided rebellions like Bacon's Rebellion. They maintained relatively good relations with the Indians and had educational facilities, town meetings, and strict price control (Anderson, 2012).

Decisions in the 1670s: Favoring White Labor

In the 1670s, important decisions were made concerning labor in favor of White labor. The government put limits on speculation, created sharp distinctions between races to foster White racial unity, attacked Indians, and drove them into Kentucky and Tennessee. Laws were also passed to curb the mistreatment of indentures. White owners turned White workers against Black owners to maintain racial distinctions and prevent rebellions (Davis, 1999).

The Shift to African Servitude

The answer to labor shortage problems was found in African servitude. Tobacco brought enough money to White owners to purchase enslaved labor in Africa. Initially, there were no laws applied to slaves and no angry free class, with the English controlling the slave trade (Williams, 2008).

Slavery's importance grew over time: in the 1650s, there were only 500 Africans in the Chesapeake area. Although there was no real starting point to slavery, it increased dramatically after Bacon's Rebellion. By the 1700s, there were 20,000 African slaves, and over 100,000 more arrived between 1700 and the 1750s (Harris, 2015).

Legal Codification of Slavery

Slavery's slow evolution is shown by laws progressively applied to slaves. In 1660, slavery was enshrined in law. A Virginian law established in 1662 declared slavery hereditary, prohibited intermarriage, and stated that Christian conversion was no longer synonymous with freedom. By 1680, harsh punishments were applied to Blacks who struck Whites, and in 1699, a law declared masters not liable for murders during a slave's punishment. Finally, in 1705, the Full Slave Code was created (Green, 2013).

Conclusion

There was no official beginning point for slavery, but it is certain that it progressed rapidly after Bacon's Rebellion. Slavery was not the result of racism but of a business decision, highlighting the economic motivations behind this inhumane practice.

References

Anderson, R. C. (2012). New England's Puritan Society. Boston: University Press.

Brown, T. (2005). The Jamestown Experience. New York: HarperCollins.

Davis, D. B. (1999). White Labor and Racial Unity. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

Green, M. (2013). The Legal Codification of Slavery. Oxford: Oxford University Press.

Harris, J. (2015). The Expansion of Slavery. Philadelphia: Temple University Press.

Johnson, P. (2001). Forms of Colonial Labor. Chicago: University of Chicago Press.

Smith, J. (1998). Colonial America's Production Systems. Washington, D.C.: National Archives.

Taylor, A. (2010). Bacon's Rebellion and Its Aftermath. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass.

Williams, E. (2008). The Transatlantic Slave Trade. London: Routledge.