In contrast to Haiti, the system of slavery in the British colonies of North America was different. In America, by the 18th century, there were two types of slavery: indentured servitude, and African slavery. This image depicts one indentured servant and African slaves.
2- Indentured servants arriving from Europe in New York Harbor
The system of indentured servitude allowed the less well off to obtain passage from Europe to North America by entering into a contract of pledging their labor for a specific term of years. The term was usually four years. This image is depicting indentured servants arriving by boat at a bustling dock in New York Harbor from Europe during the 18th or 19th century.
3- Most indentured servants went to work in the middle colonies
During the colonial period, between half, to two thirds of whites who migrated to the colonies were believed to have come to America in this fashion. Most indentured servants, also called engages, went to work in the middle colonies like Pennsylvania.
4- Indentured servants and African slaves awaiting at place of work
The colonists have never found indenture servants wholly satisfactory. Borderline profit margins compelled tobacco planters to search for a more stable, more disciplined and more economical labor force. Masters have also found indentured servitude expensive since the term of service was relatively short.
5- Indentured servants working on a plantation
The colonists also found that these servants were a constant source of problems. Servants frequently leave the work place secretly and hide to avoid the law, and they were not easy to trace since they were for the most part white.
6- Indentured servants working on a plantation
The lot of the indentured slaves was usually harsh, the work difficult and exhausting, and the penalties of carelessness and wrongdoing were severe. The servants could not marry without their master’s consent, but they did retain all their political and legal rights. They had the right to recourse to the courts and when their term expired, they were free to choose their own occupation or to live wherever they pleased.
7- The legal status of the Negro slaves was indeterminate
None of these options were open to the African slaves, hereinafter Negro Slaves. The first Negro to reach the mainland colonies arrived in Virginia in 1619. By 1670, there was no more than 2000 Negro slaves in the colonies. From the start, the legal status of the Negro slaves was indeterminate.
8- Virginia and Maryland passed laws: Negroes are slaves for life
After 1660, Legislation began to define the status of the Negro slave and differentiate them with the white servants. Virginia and Maryland passed laws declaring Negroes to be slaves for life, and that the children of Negro slaves and of mulattos were likewise slaves. Negroes were forbidden to possess weapons. Sexual relations between them and white servants were prohibited.
9- Increasing African population in the American colonies
By 1700, the importation of African slaves to America rose rapidly. The Negro population in the colonies rose from under 20,000 in 1700 to about 350,000 in 1763. By then, Negro slaves were found in every colony. This image is depicting the increasing African population in the American colonies during the early 18th century.
10- View of an 18th-century Virginia plantation with African slaves
In Virginia, in 1756, blacks made up 40% of the Virginian population: 120,000 blacks out of 293,000 whites. In South Carolina, in 1756, the blacks outnumbered whites by almost 2 to 1: 40,000 blacks to 25,000 whites. This image depicts the demographic reality of 18th-century Virginia and South Carolina, highlighting the significant African population in the colonies.
11- The number of slaves in the South doubled after slavery ended ,
Though the African slave trade legally ended in 1808, the number of slaves in the South continued to double every 30 years, growing from 857.000 in 1800 to nearly 4 millions in 1860. This image is depicting the large African slave population in the American South during the early 19th century, focusing on agricultural labor and community life.
12- Slaves were not allowed to have property, firearms or congregate
The southern states regulated the conditions of slavery by laws. Unlike Haiti, the slaves in the British colonies of America were considered as human beings. But they were not allowed to hold property, to carry firearms, to congregate with each other except in church.
13- The slaves were not allowed to leave their master’s premises
The slaves were not allowed to leave their master’s premises without permission or to give evidence against a white man in court. They could not legally marry; they could not legally be taught to read and write.
15- Slaves could not legally marry
The slaves were not allowed to leave their master’s premises without permission or to give evidence against a white man in court. They could not legally marry; they could not legally be taught to read and write.
16- Slaves could not legally be taught to read and write.
The slaves were not allowed to leave their master’s premises without permission or to give evidence against a white man in court. They could not legally marry; they could not legally be taught to read and write. This image depicts freed slaves that were previously denied education, claiming rights to learn how to read and write at the freedmen's bureau between 1865 and 1875.
