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3: The Development Indentured Servitude and Racial Slavery in the American Colonies

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    22724
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    • 3.1: Introduction
      This page outlines the evolution of racial slavery in North America's Chesapeake and Low Country colonies, noting the transition from indentured servitude to African slave labor driven by the tobacco economy. It discusses laws that associated blackness with slavery and whiteness with freedom, as well as the strong family bonds among enslaved individuals. The module seeks to deepen the understanding of African American history and examines the origins and societal impact of racial slavery.
    • 3.2: The Settling of Virginia
      This page discusses the establishment and development of the Virginia and Maryland colonies. Virginia's Jamestown, founded in 1607, struggled but eventually prospered through tobacco cultivation, leading to indentured servitude and the introduction of slavery in 1619, which created systemic inequality.
    • 3.3: Tightening the Bonds of Slavery
      This page details the evolution of slavery in America, highlighting the shift from indentured servitude to hereditary slavery post-1643 with new laws and Slave Codes. By the 18th century, enslaved Africans predominantly worked on tobacco plantations, forming families and communities despite challenges. Competition affected social structures, leading to the development of extensive kinship networks by the century's end.
    • 3.4: Africans in the Low Country
      This page discusses the economic development of the Carolina colony, highlighting the reliance on an imported slave system from the Caribbean in the late 17th century. Established by King Charles II, the colony's economy thrived on the labor of enslaved Africans in rice and indigo cultivation, with African agricultural techniques enhancing rice production. Enslaved women played a crucial role in processing rice, achieving some economic autonomy.


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