History of Slavery in America
...ach state had it’s own slave code, all salve codes made slavery a permanent condition and defines slaves as property. Since slaves were defined as property they could not own property or be a part of a contract. By 1700 there were about 20,500 African slaves in America. The development of plantation agriculture, the consumption of sugar and need for miners all led to the increasing demand for African slaves. Slavery existed in thirteen colonies by the middle of the 18th century. The invention of the cotton gin by Eli Whitney greatly increased the demand for slave labor in 1793. The Journey to America: The trip the African slaves made across the Atlantic was known as the Middle Passage. The voyage across the Atlantic usually took about 60-90 days but some lasted up to four months. The conditions that the slaves had to endure on this voyage were horrifying. The slaves were often treated as cattle. They were crowded together in small areas where the heat was unbearable. Men were often chained together and women were often used sexually. In the cramped and unsanitary conditions many diseases, including smallpox and yellow fever, spread rapidly. Altogether, over the centuries, it is estimated that about one and two million people died in this voyage to America. Life as a Slave in the Colonies: Slaves were forced to wake up early and work long days. The salves were forced to do all different ...