Over time, I’ve not only gained additional knowledge but perspective. As in many investigations, the best way to understanding is to follow the money. At the same time, racism is a major factor in the treatment of enslaved people. It’s always been about the enrichment of others. The form of chattel slavery practiced in America was different and far more insidious than that practiced in most countries. Almost everywhere else, slavery was for a limited term, and if not, the children of enslaved people were born free. In 1662, the Virginia House of Burgesses instituted a practice that soon became law throughout the colonies.
Partus Sequitur Ventrem dictated that any child born to an enslaved person follows the mother’s bloodline, deviating from past practices of following the father’s bloodline. This had the dual effect of perpetuating slavery through generations of Black people and absolving fathers, many of them white, of any responsibility. It effectively made the rape of enslaved women by their legal owners and removed any fathers’ obligation to care for or even acknowledge their children.
America’s economy was built on the availability of cheap labor, which came from two competing sources. Initially, much of that labor was provided by indentured servants, many of whom entered into five to seven-year contracts, after which they would be free and possibly receive a parcel of land and equipment to work it. Indentured servants were often treated harshly and had few liberties. While most of the initial indentured servants were European, there were also Black indentured servants. Don’t be confused into thinking they were treated the same. In 1640, five indentured servants, four white and one Black ran away to escape their harsh treatment. The four white ones were whipped and had four years added to their contract. John Punch, the Black indentured servant, was commanded to continue his service for the rest of his life. He became the first enslaved person in America. However, slavery wouldn’t become legal for another year in the colonies with the passage of the inaptly named Body of Liberties in Massachusetts.
Back to following the money. The initial economy of America was all agriculture-based. Sugar, tobacco, rice, and cotton were among the leading crops and highly labor-intensive. The two economic models, indentured servitude vs. slavery, trended toward enslavement being more profitable. The terms of indentured servitude eventually came to an end, and they were usually owed land and/or equipment at the end of their service. Enslaved people served for their lifetime and received no death benefit or retirement plan. Enslaved people often worked alongside indentured servants until Nathaniel Bacon upset the applecart.
Before 1676, there wasn’t even a thing called the white race. Then Nathaniel Bacon, a wealthy white property owner, led a coalition of white and Black indentured servants and Black enslaved people in an attack on the Virginia government and Native American tribes whose land Bacon wanted. The fear of indentured servants and enslaved people joining together by class against the elite struck fear into white hearts and minds. Indentured servitude was dumped in favor of slavery. It was more profitable, and the Black enslaved were more readily identifiable, which helped keep them in place.
Jamestown's events were alarming to the planter elite, who were deeply fearful of the multiracial alliance of [indentured servants] and slaves. Word of Bacon’s Rebellion spread far and wide, and several more uprisings of a similar type followed. To protect their superior status and economic position, the planters shifted their strategy for maintaining dominance. They abandoned their heavy reliance on indentured servants in favor of the importation of more black slaves.
Jamestown's events were alarming to the planter elite, who were deeply fearful of the multiracial alliance of [indentured servants] and slaves. Word of Bacon’s Rebellion spread far and wide, and several more uprisings of a similar type followed. To protect their superior status and economic position, the planters shifted their strategy for maintaining dominance. They abandoned their heavy reliance on indentured servants in favor of the importation of more black slaves.
“The events in Jamestown were alarming to the planter elite, who were deeply fearful of the multiracial alliance of [indentured servants] and slaves. Word of Bacon’s Rebellion spread far and wide, and several more uprisings of a similar type followed. In an effort to protect their superior status and economic position, the planters shifted their strategy for maintaining dominance. They abandoned their heavy reliance on indentured servants in favor of the importation of more black slaves.” ~Michelle Alexander
A century later, slavery was well entrenched as the engine that made America’s economy roar. Even the northern states, with their fledgling industrial economies,