SLAVERY in the British Colonies [APUSH Review Unit 2 Topic 6] Period 2: 1607-1754

The Nasty Side of British Colonization: Slavery in the Colonies

Overview of Slavery's Impact on British Colonial Society

• The video discusses the darker aspects of British colonization, focusing on slavery's causes and effects across various colonial regions.

• It highlights the Atlantic slave trade, which transported approximately 3 million Africans to British colonies in North America and the Caribbean.

• The horrific conditions of the Middle Passage are described, where about half a million captives died during transport due to overcrowding and poor conditions.

Distribution of Enslaved Africans Across Colonies

• All British colonies participated in and benefited from the African slave trade; it was not limited to the southern colonies.

• Increased demand for agricultural goods combined with a shortage of indentured servants led to a rise in enslaved laborers from Africa.

• Following Bacon's Rebellion (1676), colonial elites became wary of alliances between indentured servants and enslaved Africans, leading them to rely more heavily on slavery.

Nature and Legal Framework of Chattel Slavery

• In New England, farms were smaller with fewer enslaved individuals compared to larger plantations in southern colonies.

• Chattel slavery is defined as race-based slavery where enslaved people are treated as property rather than human beings.

• Influenced by practices from the British West Indies, Virginia established harsh slave laws that legally defined African laborers as chattel.

Evolution of Slave Laws and Their Consequences

• Virginia enacted laws making slavery a perpetual institution passed down through generations; these laws grew increasingly severe over time.

• By the late 17th century, plantation owners were granted rights that included lethal force against defiant enslaved individuals.

• Interracial relationships were made illegal, further entrenching racial divisions within society.

Resistance Among Enslaved People

• Despite their circumstances, enslaved Africans found ways to resist their dehumanizing treatment both covertly and overtly.

• Covert resistance included maintaining cultural customs from their homelands and slowing work pace through sabotage like tool-breaking or crop damage.

Stono Rebellion: A Challenge to Plantation Narratives

Overview of the Stono Rebellion

• The Stono Rebellion involved enslaved individuals who revolted against their white owners, leading to violence and destruction as they marched along the Stono River. They grew in number to about 50 before being confronted by a white militia.

• Most of the rebellious slaves were either killed during the conflict or executed later. This rebellion highlighted a significant challenge to the prevailing narrative held by plantation owners, who viewed themselves as benevolent caretakers.

• The events of the Stono Rebellion served as evidence that enslaved people did not share this view and actively resisted their oppression, contradicting the plantation owners' self-perception.

Implications for Historical Understanding

• The rebellion underscores the complexities of slave-owner relationships and challenges simplistic narratives about slavery's nature.

• It illustrates how acts of resistance can disrupt dominant historical narratives and reveal deeper truths about power dynamics in society.

Conclusion