In the 19th century slaves were considered very expensive “property” and accounted for 1/3 of the population in the South of the US. As the salve dominated the south they shaped it both economically and culturally. They helped build the economic foundations of the new nation. Slavery was in no way a minor aspect in the US at this time. By 1860 there were 4 million slaves in the US. People saw slavery as a necessary evil and believed that the slaves benefited from slavery. However in order for slavery to work slaves had to be dehumanised and were controlled through legally authorised violence. It was a very common occurrence that slaves to be brutally beaten, raped, whipped, branded. This was done to make sure they kept doing as they were told and were kept under control. Owners were even fined if they did not punish recapture run away slaves. Slave owners prohibited their slaves from preaching and learning to read and write. This was because if they allowed them to do what they wanted; including reading, writing and preaching; they could build up a rebellion and fight back against their masters. Slavers were able to reaffirm their humanity through marrying and making families. This was a very powerful form of resistance.
Slavery in American began in 1619 when the first African slaves were brought to the North American colony of Jamestown, Virginia. The slaves’ job was to aid in the production of lucrative crops like tobacco. The slavers were told that they would receive land and freedom in exchange from seven years of hard labour. The colonies prospered and the Americans’ were reluctant to loose their labour, resulting in the slaves no gaining land and their freedom. They slaves were not subject to English common law, they were workers without rights. In 1641 slavery was legalised in America. The slaves became know as chattel, which is person property that could be owned from life.
Slaves made the owners so prosperous that in 1690 England’s King Charles the second established the Royal African Company that transported humans, known as “Black Gold”, from Africa to America. However England finally out lawed its slavery trade in 1807. This meant that America had to rely on its own international slave trade. By 1880 a million slaves were being moved and sold between American colonies, resulting in slave families being torn apart. Traders even marched their chattel from the East coast to the Southern plantations, where along the way slaves were herded like animals into crowded pens, yards and warehouses.
As the slave trade grew so did the opposition. American soon became a nation divided against it-self. In the middle of the 19th-century, as America expanded westward and with a growing slavery abolition movement in the North, the nation was in great debate with it-self over slavery. This controversy resulted in the nation being torn apart in the bloody American Civil War, 1861-1865. The Union won meaning that the nations 4 million slaves were freed. However the legacy of slavery continued to influence American history, from the tumultuous years of Reconstruction (1865-77) to the civil rights movement that emerged in the 1960s, a century after liberation and freedom.
Slavery was officially abolished in the 19th century, however it still exists today. Slavery still exists today due to exploiters tricking traffic victims into slavery through promises of money, education and work. Human traffickers, or exploiters, tend to prey on impoverished people who live in countries with little access to education, health care or jobs. Traffickers disguise themselves as legitimate recruiters or employment brokers and promise paying work, therefore many poor people are willing to sign up.
Impoverished parents are often preyed upon, as they desperately want to work so they can feed their starving families. Young people often want to work so they can pay for their and their brothers and sisters schooling, and often sign up to the employment brokers due to their parents desperation. They are tricked into believing they will be paid for their work.
The basic rule of this global traffic in slaves is that victims flow from poorer countries to richer countries. While it is true that most slaves in the US are trafficked in from other countries. US citizens are also forced into slavery around the country. A recent study found that the citizens of more than 35 countries are enslaved in the US, with the greatest numbers coming from China, Mexico and Vietnam.
Where does Child Slavery Still Exist Today?
Number of people in forced labour and regional distribution:
Asia and Pacific – 11.7 million (56%)
Africa – 3.7 million (18%)
US, Canada, Australia, European Union, Japan, Australia, New Zealand – 1.5 million (7%)
Central, Southeast and Eastern Europe (non EU) and the Commonwealth of Independent States (CSEE) – 1.6 million (7%)
Middle East – 600 000 (3%)
Slavery in American began in 1619 when the first African slaves were brought to the North American colony of Jamestown, Virginia. The slaves’ job was to aid in the production of lucrative crops like tobacco. The slavers were told that they would receive land and freedom in exchange from seven years of hard labour. The colonies prospered and the Americans’ were reluctant to loose their labour, resulting in the slaves no gaining land and their freedom. They slaves were not subject to English common law, they were workers without rights. In 1641 slavery was legalised in America. The slaves became know as chattel, which is person property that could be owned from life.
Slaves made the owners so prosperous that in 1690 England’s King Charles the second established the Royal African Company that transported humans, known as “Black Gold”, from Africa to America. However England finally out lawed its slavery trade in 1807. This meant that America had to rely on its own international slave trade. By 1880 a million slaves were being moved and sold between American colonies, resulting in slave families being torn apart. Traders even marched their chattel from the East coast to the Southern plantations, where along the way slaves were herded like animals into crowded pens, yards and warehouses.
As the slave trade grew so did the opposition. American soon became a nation divided against it-self. In the middle of the 19th-century, as America expanded westward and with a growing slavery abolition movement in the North, the nation was in great debate with it-self over slavery. This controversy resulted in the nation being torn apart in the bloody American Civil War, 1861-1865. The Union won meaning that the nations 4 million slaves were freed. However the legacy of slavery continued to influence American history, from the tumultuous years of Reconstruction (1865-77) to the civil rights movement that emerged in the 1960s, a century after liberation and freedom.
Slavery was officially abolished in the 19th century, however it still exists today. Slavery still exists today due to exploiters tricking traffic victims into slavery through promises of money, education and work. Human traffickers, or exploiters, tend to prey on impoverished people who live in countries with little access to education, health care or jobs. Traffickers disguise themselves as legitimate recruiters or employment brokers and promise paying work, therefore many poor people are willing to sign up.
Impoverished parents are often preyed upon, as they desperately want to work so they can feed their starving families. Young people often want to work so they can pay for their and their brothers and sisters schooling, and often sign up to the employment brokers due to their parents desperation. They are tricked into believing they will be paid for their work.
The basic rule of this global traffic in slaves is that victims flow from poorer countries to richer countries. While it is true that most slaves in the US are trafficked in from other countries. US citizens are also forced into slavery around the country. A recent study found that the citizens of more than 35 countries are enslaved in the US, with the greatest numbers coming from China, Mexico and Vietnam.
Where does Child Slavery Still Exist Today?
Number of people in forced labour and regional distribution:
Asia and Pacific – 11.7 million (56%)
Africa – 3.7 million (18%)
US, Canada, Australia, European Union, Japan, Australia, New Zealand – 1.5 million (7%)
Central, Southeast and Eastern Europe (non EU) and the Commonwealth of Independent States (CSEE) – 1.6 million (7%)
Middle East – 600 000 (3%)