Slavery and Racism

Slavery and Racism

The system of temporary servitude developed out the practices in England. By 1620, the Virginia Company had organized an effective system that enabled poorer Englishmen to sail for America .These people were all unemployed and consider America as a “Lord of Opportunity” .Hundreds of people bound themselves to masters for fixed term of servitude in exchange for passage to America but, the condition of work was really hard and most of them couldn’t finish the term. By beginning of the 1670s, a decrease in the birth rate in England and an improvement in economic conditions there reduced the pressure on laboring men and women to emigrate, and the flow of indentured servants declined. Americans needed workers so they appeal to Africans. Africa was a poor country and people dream, was coming to America. At first they came to America as a servant. The first Africans in America arrived as Indentured Servants via Jamestown, Virginia. Africans could earn their freedom working as laborers and artisans for the European settlers. Africans could become free people and enjoy some of the liberties like other new settlers. At that time Virginia had no law of slavery and the arrivals became "servants." They went to work in tobacco fields alongside other servants who were white and had come from England. Conditions were equally hard for both groups, but servitude could end. Early Virginia blacks gained their freedom and a few actually prospered. One, named Anthony Johnson. He survived his own time of servitude, married, and acquired land and indentured servants. In France, there was no law to permit indentured servant fill labor needs. The Dutch slave traders stepped in with a ready source - enslaved Africans. The English were quick to adopt this model for labor, and by the 1650s, the source of labor had switched from voluntary to involuntary. The Africans were slaves in fact and, eventually, in law. They did not have an end to their term of service as indentured servants did. In 1641, Massachusetts became the first colony to legally recognize slavery. Other states, such as Virginia, followed. In 1662, Virginia decided all children born in the colony to a slave mother would be enslaved. Slavery was not only a life-long condition; now it could be passed, like skin color, from generation to generation and that’s where racism begins.

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