Slavery

How was slavery organized in the 17th and 18th century in & around America?

1. How was transport organised

• Where did the slaves come from?
Slaves came from all over the world, but the most of them came from Africa. The slaves which were brought to America were captured in West Africa; Mali, Mauretania, Senegal, Guinea, Sierra Leone, Ghana, but also in the rest of Africa. The slaves were captured in Africa because they were supposed to be the most efficient and hard working people.

• How were they captured?
Most slaves were captured in raids or during wars. Some of them attempted to run away, but pistols and cutlasses were used to intimidate them. They were brought to the coast. When they arrived the slaves had to wait in prisons or slave fortresses for the ships, there was no way to escape. When the ship arrived, they were brought aboard.

• How were slaves transported
Slaves were transported in boats, mostly in specially build ships that were build especially for slave trade. These “cargo ships” were built with a lot of decks, so they had a lot of space.
The slaves were locked up on the decks, chained with large chains. The slaves got a little bit of food, so a lot died of hunger. The slaves were put together. And there was almost no space. The sick people were placed on the outside, the large in the wider part and the small and the children in the front and the back of the decks. Most of the slaves didn’t survive the journey, because of hunger, illness, suicide or they were killed by the crew on the ship.

• Where were the slaves brought to?
Most of the slaves went to the plantations in America, were they had to work on the field (see subquestion 3). When the slaves arrived in America, they were sold at the slave market.
At the slave market, they were treated badly and if they tried to escape they were punished with a whip. The highest bidder bought the slaves he wanted. When the slaves were bought, they usually had to walk or run all the way to his owner his home. Tied behind the carriage.

2. How was the slave market organised

• Where were the slaves sold?
When the ships arrived in America, slave markets and auctions were organised to sell the slaves to plantation bosses. Every time a slave ship arrived such an auction or market was organised, they were announced with posters.

• How were the slaves sold?
The slaves that were sold at an auction, the slaves had to walk around in front of the buyers, so everybody could see them. An auctioneer then sold the slaves to the highest bidder. Slave markets were even worse; slave owners were able to walk around in the group of slaves and could grab the one they wanted. Before the slaves were sold they were had to undergo humiliating examinations. Slave traders pulled at their lips, looked at their teeth, stared in their eyes, poked in heir backs or stomach. Some slaves had to do exercises to show how healty they were. In fights, they had to show how strong they were.
Healthy slaves usually costed 146 Amarican dollars, that is like 100 euro’s. Later the Slaves were more expensive. Children costed about one third of the price of an adult. The price of an old or ill slave costed about 87 dollars, that is like 60 euro’s.

• What kind of people bought slaves?
Slaves were bought by plantation bosses, wealthy people, factory owners or landowners bought slaves. Most of the slaves were given a new English name and a brand, so the bosses could reconise them, and they could be brought back to their owners when they ran away. When the slaves were bought the slaves had to undergo even more horrible things. Often slaves were seperated from their relatives and friends, because they were sold to other owners. They would never see them ever again.

3. How was the work of the slaves organized?

• What kind of slaves were there?
There were 2 main kinds of slaves: Field- and house slaves.
Field slaves:
Field slaves had to do the hardest work. Field slaves often lived one room shacks with mud floors. Field slaves were fed once a day. There meal consisted of cornmeal and fatty meat given to them by the slave master.
House slaves:
House slaves had a better life than the field slaves. They lived in the house of their master. They got better food than the field slaves.
Many times their was a animosity between the field slaves and the house slaves. This was because the house slaves acted like the master’s spy.

• What work did the slaves had to do?
There were 2 main kinds of work: Field- and housework.
Fieldwork:
The field slaves had to work on the plantations. On the plantations they grew crops like; tobacco, rice, sugar cane and cotton. The field slaves were driven all day long by a white overseer with a whip. The slaves worked from sunrise till sunset. From a slaves point of view it was when you could see the big yellow thing until you couldn’t see it. Children of an age of 12 their work was almost the same as an adult’s. On Sundays they had a day of. On very hot days, the slaves got sometimes 2 hours off.
Housework:
House slaves worked in their master’s home. They were like servants of their master. The most common things they had to do were clean the house, cook, serve meals and take care of the children. Other daily chores included: washing, ironing, taking up and down carpets, sweeping floors, dusting furniture, hoeing and weeding gardens, and collecting eggs. Weaving, spinning linens and quilting were also chores expected of the house slaves.
A bad job to have was to be a cook. They had long days. They started making breakfast to dinner, and at last they could clean everything. They also had to entertain their masters with music.

• How were the slaves treated after they were bought?
Every slave is different treated. The one is given gifts like money and the other is punished. The house slaves were often treated as a child of the master. Some slaves were released after their master died because of their good work and loyalty.

Conclusion

How was slavery organized
in the 17th & 18th century
in & around America?

Slaves who went to America came mostly from West-Africa. They were captured in raids or during war. After capturing the slaves were transported to America. This journey was horrible. Many of them died aboard. Most of the slaves were brought to plantations in America

If you arrived in America you were sold at a slave market or auction. The slaves had to walk around the people. At an auction the highest bidder got the slave he/she wanted. At a slave market you grabbed a slave. A healthy slave was 146 American dollar (100 euro) worth. Slaves were bought by plantation bosses, wealthy people, factory owners or landowners.

There were 2 main kinds of slaves: Field- & house slaves.
Field slaves:
Field slaves had to do the hardest work. They had to work on the plantation.
House slaves:
House slaves had a better life than a field slave. They worked in the house of their master. They had to do the common things in a household.
The slaves were treated all different, some got gifts and the others were whipped.