Colonial slavery in America began in the early 1600s and lasted until 1865. African slaves were brought in as indentured servants, but laws were enforced to enslave them. Slavery became a competitive market, and cruelty was based on the perception that slaves were barbaric. The workload was tedious, and slaves worked from sunrise to sunset. Anti-slavery movements emerged, and slavery was abolished in 1865 with the Emancipation Proclamation. It took nearly three centuries to see the rise and fall of American slavery.
Colonial slavery usually refers to slavery in the American colonial period between the early 1600s and late 1700s when the colonies became independent from Great Britain. Some of the early settlers who came to America acquired an abundance of land but lacked manpower. The African slave trade was a legal market throughout Europe at the time, and early settlers brought in a small group of African slaves who were referred to as indentured servants. Indentured servitude changed as colonies grew and laws were enforced regarding servants, enslaving them.
Slave laws were established in the late 1600s and Africans who were brought to America would work for their right to life. Colonial slavery across America grew rapidly, creating a competitive market, and human trade became increasingly popular. There were many people who fought against slavery, but they were often outnumbered, which caused legal slavery to survive for almost 300 years. Colonial slavery gradually transformed from a cheap commodity to a racially based practice. Treatment of slaves also changed, and cruelty was often based on the perception that this workforce was barbaric.
As colonial slavery laws became stricter, the workload became more tedious. Many peasants owned large estates and required extremely large numbers of slaves to work the land. Most colonial slaves worked the crops, and the hours usually involved constant work from sunrise to sunset. Most plantations also used small numbers of slaves for housework, and this form of colonial slavery was sometimes considered more civilized. Slaves who did not live in local slave communities often lived on the plantation and were supervised by several slave masters.
The number of slaves increased into the millions and anti-slavery movements also began to increase. Supporters of this movement were able to introduce the idea of freedom for all and different activist groups emerged. Although the late 1700s showed a growing separation from slavery, it was not until 1865 that slavery was abolished.
An order devised by President Abraham Lincoln in 1863 called the Emancipation Proclamation was the first step towards the total elimination of slavery, and millions of slaves were freed. It took nearly three centuries to see the rise and fall of American slavery, and many slaves did not live to experience freedom. Ultimately, the American Civil War ushered the nation into a new era of freedom, but hardships existed long after slavery was abolished.
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