When comparing the experiences of slaves on tobacco plantations in the early seventeenth-century Chesapeake region and nineteenth-century cotton plantations in the Deep South, it is evident that significant differences arose due to transformational forces impacting slavery. It is crucial to recognize that slavery differed depending on the particular region and time period, making it imprudent to generalize the slaves’ experiences.
The varying climates in the Chesapeake region and the Deep South influenced both the types of crops cultivated and the extent of slave labor. Consequently, this caused a transformation in the identity of enslaved individuals as slavery transitioned from being primarily class-based to becoming predominantly race-based. As a result, indentured servants and black individuals collaborated in their work. Moreover, not only did slaves have different experiences, but slavery itself underwent alterations throughout history.
The introduction of new technologies during the transition from class-based slavery to racial slavery brought about significant changes in the administration of this institution. Despite some elements remaining unchanged, such as the dependency on agriculture and the presence of black individuals in subordinate roles, several factors contributed to modifications within the system. These included the establishment of slave codes in the 1670s, which legalized and racialized slavery, along with advancements like the cotton gin and other technologies in the 1790s that increased profitability within this industry.
In the seventeenth century, slavery in America had smaller tobacco plantations and racially diverse servitude, with less demanding labor. However, in the nineteenth century, slavery was characterized by large-scale cotton plantations and solely black slavery, with harsh and dangerous working conditions. Additionally, syncretic slave societies developed within plantations during this time period. This essay aims to identify factors of change in American slavery by examining its beginnings, middle, and end. Furthermore, it will compare and contrast the institutions of early Chesapeake and later Deep South slavery.
Slavery is a historical practice that was not limited to the United States. It underwent changes and advancements in America for multiple reasons. A major change happened around the 1690s when slavery became legally and racially defined. At first, in the Chesapeake region, slavery operated as indentured servitude, where migrants received transportation to the New World in exchange for a labor contract. The initial influx of Africans occurred in the Jamestown colony in 1619, where they worked alongside white indentured servants. However, there was no legal categorization of slavery during this timeframe.
Over time, numerous European indentured servants opted to abandon their indentured lifestyle and start farming independently, utilizing the abundant free land. This resulted in a rising scarcity of labor and posed a challenge for the indentured servitude system. Planters grew concerned about potential uprisings and the limited workforce. Simultaneously, Africans were continuously being transported to America as slaves. By the mid-1680s, the number of black slaves surpassed that of European slaves.
Bacon’s Rebellion, which took place in 1676, was a revolt led by white individuals who were either descendants of or former indentured servants living on the frontier. The rebellion sought to safeguard their land from Indian attacks and challenge the Virginia government. Nevertheless, it led to the end of indentured servitude and the requirement for a fresh labor system. In 1682, Virginia established a slave code that enslaved all imported individuals of color, signifying a notable change by introducing racial divisions into servitude.
Legally enforced and based on race, slavery played a significant role in shaping American History through the establishment of black slavery culture and white supremacy. Racial slavery gained firm footing during the middle period; however, it was in the 18th century that its importance in cultivating cash crops became evident in the fertile soil of southern colonies. As a result, the practice of slavery quickly expanded to meet the growing demand for slaves involved in tobacco cultivation in the Chesapeake region. Planters were attracted to tobacco because it could be bought at a low cost but sold at high prices.
The Royal African Company’s monopoly was lost in 1698 due to the expansion of the slave trade and a heightened interest in its profitability. By 1750, around half of Virginia’s population consisted of black slaves. In order to guarantee the perpetuation of racial slavery, fresh laws were enforced stipulating that the children born to enslaved individuals would also be condemned to lifelong enslavement. This further cemented the perception that black slaves were regarded as property or “chattels,” thus reinforcing the racial foundation of slavery.
The integration of slavery with race, economy, politics, and everyday life made it evident that America was no longer solely a society with slaves. Cotton slavery, in addition to tobacco plantations, experienced growth in the Deep South. The depletion of soil in the Chesapeake region from cultivating tobacco prompted numerous slave-owners to sell their slaves to southern plantations. Consequently, while slavery persisted in the Chesapeake area, the center of the expanding cotton industry progressed to the Deep South. The paragraph addressing the end of slavery will cover the primary factors that contributed to this shift.
Due to the intensive tobacco production in the Chesapeake region, the soil became overused, leading many plantation owners to sell their slaves to cotton plantation owners in the South. The nineteenth century marked the peak of slavery both economically and politically, with cotton slavery emerging as a highly profitable industry. This was facilitated by Eli Whitney’s invention of the cotton gin in 1793 and the British Industrial Revolution, as the British textile industry had a growing demand for cotton. The cotton gin improved the efficiency of enslaved labor in yielding cotton.
The supply-demand relationship resulted in the establishment of large plantations, some with hundreds of slaves. The vast wealth produced from slavery is apparent in the expansive estates owned by plantation owners and the extensive land cultivated by enslaved individuals.
Despite the prohibition of the Atlantic Slave Trade in 1808, the American slave population continued to increase and eventually reached around four million prior to the Civil War. Additionally, illegal Atlantic slave trade persisted, as well as internal trading within the country (such as the Second Middle Passage).
Slavery, now confined by law to southern states, served as the foundation of the southern agrarian economy.
Planters took proactive measures to ensure productivity from their slaves because it was highly profitable. Whipping was frequently used as a means to enforce discipline. Additionally, Fugitive Slave Laws granted planters the authority to claim their escaped slaves as property, even if they sought refuge in the free North. Slave codes imposed strict regulations, and even a minor indiscretion could result in severe punishment for a slave. The heightened paranoia in response to rebellions, such as Denmark Vesey’s uprising in 1822 and the Nat Turner Insurrection of 1831, led planters to rely on these laws to maintain control over their slaves and uphold the institution of slavery.
To sum up, there is a noticeable evolution from an undefined practice of servitude to a highly regulated institution with harsh penalties. In the same way, slavery transformed from the servitude of lower social classes to the enslavement of specific races. These transformations were driven by factors like Bacon’s Rebellion and the implementation of slave codes, ultimately leading to the invention of the cotton gin, which made slavery an incredibly profitable enterprise. Consequently, slaves encountered varying circumstances depending on the specific time and location in American history.
In order to illustrate the impact of the forces that changed slavery, it is crucial to analyze their effects on the lives of slaves throughout history. To start, we will explore the experiences of a tobacco slave in seventeenth-century Chesapeake. These slaves would have likely labored alongside white indentured servants, as the concept of racial slavery had not yet emerged. Since the arrival of slaves in the Chesapeake in 1619, African servants during this period may have had limited knowledge of the English language. In this era, slave families typically stayed together, and if separated, they often remained in the same geographic region.
Despite milder summer climate in the Chesapeake area compared to the South, slaves in both the seventeenth century and later in the Deep South had similarities and differences. Slavery evolved into a prosperous industry by the nineteenth century, particularly in the Deep South, fueled by increased cotton demand and plantation establishments. One commonality during these periods was the extensive manual labor demanded by slavery’s predominant agricultural nature.
In both the seventeenth and nineteenth centuries, slaves had comparable living conditions regarding their food and sleep needs for productivity. However, there was a consistent perception of the black race as inferior. The main factor causing significant differences between these periods was the larger scale of slavery in the nineteenth century, which distinguished societies with slaves from those centered around slavery. During this time, the southern states heavily relied on the cotton industry, leading to harsh conditions for nineteenth-century slaves as depicted by Frederick Douglass in his autobiography. It is possible that mortality rates were higher among these specific slaves.
The nuclear family of slaves in the Deep South was often separated. Slaves had a marriage vow that stated they would stay together “until death or distance do you part.” Selling slaves down the river was a profitable practice, and many slaves, like Sojourner Truth, witnessed all of their family members being sold away. In contrast to the diverse ethnic backgrounds of seventeenth-century slaves, nineteenth-century American slaves developed a distinct ethnic identity. Most slaves spoke English, and they also created syncretic slave languages such as Geechee and Gullah. Moreover, the slaves relied on “spirituals” (slave songs) to endure their harsh working conditions.
Despite the same general structure, slavery in the nineteenth century Deep South was harsher than tobacco slavery in the Chesapeake. Deep South slaves faced not only physical punishment but also mental enslavement. The resulting identities of these slaves played a significant role in defining their culture and impacting their lifestyles. As a result, slavery transformed from being solely an economic institution to becoming a social and racial one. This drastic change led to the establishment of a huge and lucrative industry, altering the way slaves lived and transitioning them from less demanding work to arduous labor. Additionally, it shaped their cultural identity.
