Slavery in America: Causes and Effects
1. Slavery in America: Causes and Effects
Slavery in America was a period in which people were caught and taken to do manual work in America from various parts of the world as a result of colonization. The first 1679, British slavery began in the American colonies when the British started to bring slaves from Africa to South Carolina to help with the cultivation of rice. In 1681, the British colony of Virginia began buying enslaved Africans to help grow tobacco. By the time of the American Revolution, there were an estimated six hundred thousand slaves in the thirteen colonies, about 18% of the total population.
The economic causes of slavery in America were largely due to the fact that the British colonies were founded for the purpose of making money for the mother country. The British colonial policies were geared towards making the colonies self-sufficient and profitable. This meant that the colonists had to produce everything they needed, including food, clothing, and shelter. To achieve this, they needed a lot of labor, which they got from slaves. The British also encouraged the slave trade because it was profitable.
The American Revolution led to the abolition of slavery in all thirteen colonies. In 1783, Massachusetts became the first state to officially abolish slavery. In 1787, Pennsylvania passed a law gradually abolishing slavery. In 1793, Vermont became a state and banned slavery outright. In 1804, New York passed a law gradually abolishing slavery. In 1808, the United States Constitution banned the importation of slaves into America. In 1865, the Thirteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution was ratified, officially abolishing slavery in America.
Reconstruction was a period after the Civil War in which the federal government tried to rebuild the South and ensure civil rights for African Americans. Unfortunately, Reconstruction ended up being largely unsuccessful. White Southerners resisted Reconstruction by using violence and intimidation against African Americans and people who supported Reconstruction. Eventually, Reconstruction came to an end and African Americans were once again subjected to Jim Crow laws and other forms of discrimination.
The effects of slavery can still be seen in America today. African Americans have higher rates of poverty and unemployment than whites. They are also more likely to be incarcerated than whites. The legacy of slavery has also led to racism and discrimination against African Americans.
Slavery in America was a brutal and inhumane institution. It is important to remember the history of slavery in America so that we can learn from it and ensure that such a thing never happens again.