Slavery began in the American colonies in the early 1500s as the Portuguese began exploring Africa and trading slaves. By the 1700s, the growth of industries like rice, tobacco and cotton created a large demand for slave labor in the Southern colonies. To maintain control over the growing slave population, colonies implemented strict slave codes that severely limited the rights of slaves. Throughout this period, slaves resisted their condition through acts like slow work, escape and occasional rebellions, the largest being the Stono Rebellion in 1739. Slavery would not be abolished in the United States until 1865 with the end of the Civil War.

1. SLAVERY
in Colonial America
By Mr. Casey

2. AGENDA
● Vocabulary
● History of Slavery in the Colonies

3. auction
● (noun) a public sale in which something is sold to the
person who offers the most money

4. rebel
● (verb) to resist or fight against authority

5. proponent
● (noun) a person who supports something

6. SLAVERY
1526 - 1765

7. The Beginning
1450 Colonial Slavery Begins
Portuguese begin exploring Africa
and trading for goods; including ten
slaves brought back to Portugal

8. The Beginning
The Spanish begin enslaving
Native Americans in America, but
soon switch to African slaves
because the Native Americans die
of disease, will not work, or often
escape

9. The Beginning
Early slaves often had the right to
marry, worship, go to court, and
sometimes own land.
However, things began to change as
the colonies began to prosper and
more slaves were imported

10. Free Colonies
William Penn and James
Oglethorpe established laws
protecting all men and
outlawing slavery
Unfortunately,
economic pressure
and English slave laws
put an end to equal
rights.

11. STOP AND DISCUSS
●Why do you think the rights
of slaves began to
disappear as the colonies
became more prosperous
and more slaves were
imported?

12. Growth of Slavery
● The growth of the rice, indigo,
tobacco and cotton industries
creates a massive need for slaves
(free labor) in the south. By 1700,
the triangular trade routes were
established

13. Growth of Slavery
By 1700 (250,000 colonists)
1,000 slaves in New England Colonies
4,000 slaves in Middle Colonies
23,000 slaves in Southern Colonies

14. Triangular Trade

15. Slave Resistance &
Rebellions
● Many slaves resisted by working slower,
escaping, and occasionally fighting or
killing slave owners
● Although the slave population
outnumbered white colonists in some
colonies, slaves were held down with
strict laws and rules set up by colonial and
English laws

16. Slave Resistance &
Rebellions
- Olaudah Equiano, former
slave
1789- Equiano Publishes:
The Interesting Narrative
of the Life of Olaudah
Equiano
“Is not the slave trade entirely
at war with the heart of man?
And surely that which is begun
by breaking down the barriers
of virtue, involves in its
continuance destruction to
every principle, and buries all
sentiments in ruin! When you
make men slaves, you...
compel them to live with you in
a state of war.”

17. Slave Codes
In order to maintain control of the large slave
population, slave codes were often installed in
the colonies.
They included laws such as:
1. Restricted Movement/Set Curfews
2.Slaves were allowed to be executed for
certain crimes
3.Made it difficult for them gain freedom
4.Slaves were not allowed to learn a skilled
trade
5.Restricted the number of slaves that could
meet together
6.Could not testify in court
7. Could not strike a white person or escape

18. Slave Resistance &
Rebellions
STONO REBELLION
The largest and most violent slave rebellion occurred
in 1739 in South Carolina. A group of about 20 slaves
kill a few guards, steal a few weapons and begin
marching toward Florida. As they march south they
gather more slaves, burn houses and kill colonists
along the way. Later, a militia of local colonists
catches up with the slaves and kills many of them.
The rest are tracked down, returned to slavery or
killed.

19. Slave Resistance &
Rebellions
According to historian,
Herbert Aptheker, there
were more than 250 slave
revolts between 1619 and
1835

20. What was it like?

21. The End
1865 Slavery Ends
The end of the Civil War and the
13th amendment officially end
slavery

22. The End
*During the slave trade 30 million
Africans are captured.
* Millions will die during capture and
transport
*Only about 4% of captured slaves were
brought to the 13 Colonies; most were
sent to sugar producing regions like
Brazil and the West Indies