Slavery began in the British colonies in 1619 when 20 Africans arrived in Jamestown, Virginia. Originally, Africans had similar social status as indentured servants and could gain freedom. However, by the 1660s slavery evolved as a social and economic institution to meet the labor demands of cash crops. Africans were captured in Africa and subjected to the horrific Middle Passage to the Americas, where they were branded and shackled in cramped spaces, resulting in many deaths. Slavery was justified through racism and Africans were deemed better suited than Native Americans for the permanent, cheap labor of plantations. The triangular trade route profited immensely from this exploitation.

1. Slavery: The Terrible Transformation CLOSE THE GAPS
economic indentured servants freedom knowledge of the land House of
BurgessesJamestown chattel mortality diseases immune
slavery barbaric Racism cheap labor
ORIGINS
In 1619, slavery started in the British Colonies when “20 men and women naked and in chains“
arrived in________________________, Virginia. John Rolfe published the 1st statement on the
existence of ______________________ in the 1st successful British settlement, “About the last of
August came in a Dutch man of warre (ship) that sold us twenty...”
SOCIAL STATUS OF AFRICANS BEFORE 1660
The Social Status of Africans was remarkably different before the 1660s. They worked
alongside____________________ _____________________. Indentured servants worked 4-7 years
for passage to America from Europe. They were fed and clothed by the master and many earned
land after their service. Africans could gain their ______________________, right to vote, hold
public office, and serve in the militia. They also shared their knowledge offarming, folktales, dances,
arts & handicrafts.
GREED AFTER THE 1660s
Slavery evolved in the British American colonies as a social, _____________________, and legal
institution. Cash crops (indigo, tobacco, & rice) requireda large labor force. Indentured servitude
started to decrease as Europe’s economy improved. Therefore, in 1660, The________________
_____ _______________________in Virginia formally establishes the institution of slavery. Slaves
were treated as____________________(property).
RACISM
Slavery was originally adopted for economic reasons. However, Southern whites justified slavery
based on_____________________. Racism is the belief that some people are inferior because of
their race. Whites concluded that extermination of Indians and enslavement of Africans was logical
BECAUSE whites were civilized & others were __________________________.
Native Americans were not suited for slavery because they had __________________ ____ ________
_________________. Additionally, Native Americans experienced high
____________________(death) rates from European_____________________. Africans were
better suited for slavery because they were ______________________to most European diseases,
had no means (family, friends, knowledge of land) to escape in the Americas and were a permanent
source of cheap labor.
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2. Wars dying tortured Middle Passage western coast shackles half
diseasebranded exchange Americas slave coast overboard coffin
mortality rates supply and demand revolts firearms and
gunpowderTriangular Trade cash crop plantation system climate
Abolitionists
THE MIDDLE PASSAGE (c. 1600-1800)“The Middle Passage must have been as near as anyone ever comes to hell on earth.” -
Barry Unsworth, author
The law of _______________ _______ _______________created turmoil in West Africa. The
demand for slaves by Europeans triggered ___________between African tribes. Local kings captured
Africans in ___________________for guns, molasses, & rum. The trade route between Europe,
Africa & the Americas is known as _______________________ _______________________.
For weeks, months, or as long as a year, Africans waited in the dungeons of the slave factories
scattered along Africa's________________ ________________. Out of the roughly 20 million who
were taken from their homes and sold into slavery, _____________didn't complete the journey to the
African coast, most of those ________________along the way.
The captives were about to embark on the infamous________________ _________________, so
called because it was the middle leg of a three-part voyage -- a voyage that began and ended in
Europe. The first leg of the voyage carried a cargo that often included iron, cloth,
brandy,_________________ _____ _______________. Upon landing on Africa's "____________
________________," the cargo was exchanged for Africans. Fully loaded with its human cargo,
“white ships with black cargo” set sail for the__________________, where the slaves were
exchanged for sugar, tobacco, or some other product. The final leg brought the ship back to Europe.
Slaves were _________________with hot irons and restrained with______________. With 300 to 400
people packed in a tiny area -- an area with little ventilation and, in some cases, not even enough
space to place buckets for human waste -- _________________was prevalent. Dr. Alexander
Falconbridge described the conditions stating, “They had not so much room as a man in his
_________________.” The voyage lasted 1-4 months (depending on weather). Faced with the
nightmarish conditions of the voyage and the unknown future that lay beyond, many Africans
preferred to die and some threw themselves ______________________to drown. From the captain's
point of view, his human cargo was extremely valuable. A slave who tried to starve him or herself
was ________________________. If torture didn't work, the slave was force fed with the help of a
contraption called a speculum orum, which held the mouth open.
Middle Passage ________________ _____________were high. Although it's difficult to determine
how many Africans died en route to the new world, it is now believed that between ten and twenty
percent of those transported lost their lives.
African __________________were squashed by public torture and death. A successful revolt was led
by Africans aboard the Spanish ship, Amistad (means friendship) in 1839. The Africans were
eventually freed after their case was argued before the SCOTUS.
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3. NORTH vs. SOUTHSlavery was the basis for the Southern economy because of
the_________________ ____________. The plantation system is a system of agricultural production
based on large-scale land ownership and the exploitation of labor and the environment. Production is
usually concentrated on a___________ ______________. For instance, the South produced tobacco,
rice, sugar and cotton.
The Northern ________________and region were not conducive for large scale farming. In
addition,______________________fought to end slavery. Eventually Northern colonies outlawed
slavery.
Analyzing Images:Label the key term/concept with the correct image.
A. Not so Much room as a Man in His Coffin
B. Triangular Trade
C. Middle Passage
D. Plantation System
1. The entire map
shows:_____________________________. The
journey from Africa across the Atlantic to the
Americas is known as the
___________________________________.
2. _________________ 3.____________________
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5. Slavery in the colonies: “A peculiar Institution”
ORIGINS
In 1619, slavery started in the British Colonies when20 men and women naked and in chains“arrived
in Jamestown, Virginia. John Rolfe published the 1st statement on the existence of slavery in the
1st successful British settlement, “About the last of August came in a Dutch man of warre that sold us
twenty...”
SOCIAL STATUS OF AFRICANS BEFORE 1660
The Social Status of Africans was remarkably different before the 1660s. They worked alongside
indentured servants. Indentured servants worked 4-7 years for passage to America from Europe.
They were fed and clothed by the master and many earned land after their service. Africans could
gain their freedom, right to vote, hold public office, and serve in the militia. They also shared their
knowledge offarming, folktales, dances, arts & handicrafts.
GREED AFTER THE 1660s
Slavery evolved in the British American colonies as a social, economic, and legal institution. Cash
crops (indigo, tobacco, & rice) requireda large labor force. Indentured servitude started to decrease
as Europe’s economy improved. Therefore, in 1660, TheHouse of Burgesses in Virginia formally
establishes the institution of slavery. Slaves were treated aschattel (property).
RACISM
Slavery was originally adopted for economic reasons. However, Southern whites justified slavery
based onRacism. Racism is the belief that some people are inferior because of their race. Whites
concluded that extermination of Indians and enslavement of Africans was logical BECAUSE whites
were civilized & others were BARBARIC.
THE MIDDLE PASSAGE (c. 1600-1800)
The law of supply and demand created turmoil in West Africa. The demand for slaves by
Europeanstriggered wars between African tribes. Local kings captured Africans in exchange for
guns, molasses, & rum. The trade route between Europe, Africa & the Americas is known as
Triangular Trade.
For weeks, months, or as long as a year, Africans waited in the dungeons of the slave factories
scattered along Africa's western coast. Out of the roughly20 million who were taken from their
homes and sold into slavery, half didn't complete the journey to the African coast, most of those
dying along the way.
The captives were about to embark on the infamous Middle Passage, so called because it was the
middle leg of a three-part voyage -- a voyage that began and ended in Europe. The first leg of the
voyage carried a cargo that often included iron, cloth, brandy, firearms, and gunpowder. Upon
landing on Africa's "slave coast," the cargo was exchanged for Africans. Fully loaded with its
human cargo, the ship set sail for the Americas, where the slaves were exchanged for sugar, tobacco,
5

6. or some other product. The final leg brought the ship back to Europe.
Slaves were branded with hot irons and restrained with shackles. With 300 to 400 people packed in
a tiny area -- an area with little ventilation and, in some cases, not even enough space to place
buckets for human waste -- disease was prevalent. Dr. Alexander Falconbridge described the
conditions stating, “They had not so much room as a man in his coffin.” The voyage lasted 1-4
months (depending on weather). Faced with the nightmarish conditions of the voyage and the
unknown future that lay beyond, many Africans preferred to die and some threw themselves
overboard to drown. From the captain's point of view, his human cargo was extremely valuable. A
slave who tried to starve him or herself was tortured. If torture didn't work, the slave was force fed
with the help of a contraption called a speculum orum, which held the mouth open.
Middle Passage mortality rates were high. Although it's difficult to determine how many Africans
died en route to the new world, it is now believed that between ten and twenty percent of those
transported lost their lives.
African revolts were squashed by public torture and death. A successful revolt was led by Africans
aboard the Spanish ship, Amistad (means friendship) in 1839. The Africans were eventually freed
after their case was argued before the SCOTUS.
The Middle Passage must have been as near as anyone ever comes to hell on earth.- Barry Unsworth, author
WHY AFRICANS?
Native Americans were not suited for slavery because they had knowledge of the land. Additionally,
Native Americans experienced high mortality (death) rates from European diseases. Africans were
better suited for slavery because they were immune to most European diseases, had no means
(family, friends, knowledge of land) to escape in the Americas and were apermanent source of cheap
labor.
NORTH vs. SOUTH
Slavery in the SOUTH was the basis for their economy because of the plantation system. The
plantation system is a system of agricultural production based on large-scale land ownership and the
exploitation of labor and the environment. Production is usually concentrated on a cash crop. For
instance, the plantation system in the South produced tobacco, rice, sugar and cotton for the world
market.
The Northern climate and region were not conducive for large scale farming. In addition, Abolitionists
fought to end slavery. Eventually Northern colonies outlawed slavery.
Sources:
Dalleck, R. et al (2008). American history. McDougal Littell.
Garraty, J. ( 1991). The American nation. New York, NY: Harper Collins Publishers.
http://www.polytechnic.org/faculty/gfeldmeth/USHistory.html
www.americanabolitionist.liberalarts.iupui.edu/
file
PBS Africans In America http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/aia/home.html
Websites to explore: http://www.nmm.ac.uk/freedom/
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