Indentured Servitude to Slavery the Essay

Total Length: 914 words ( 3 double-spaced pages)

Total Sources: 1

Page 1 of 3

In 1639, Virginia passed the first law that intended to exclude "Negroes" from any normal government protections. Furthermore, in 1664, Virginia passed the first anti-amalgamation law that prohibited anyone from procreating outside of their race; this law was followed up in 1691 with another law that would banish individuals from the colony if there were to marry outside of their race. In 1667, a law was passed that determined that Christian baptisms could no longer be used to free slaves. In 1682, Virginia passed legislation that officially determined that there was a racial distinction between servants and slaves.

Slavery was also aided through the passage of laws within the colonies and abroad in England. In 1641, Massachusetts became the first colony to recognize slavery, Virginia following suit shortly thereafter. In 1662, Virginia declared that any children born to slaves were to become slaves themselves, thus instituting the practice that slavery was hereditary. The final blow, instigated by Virginia in 1705, declared "all servants imported and brought to this Country…who were not Christians in their Native Country…shall be slaves. A Negro, mulatto, and Indian slaves…shall be held to be real estate."

Furthermore, the King of England encouraged the expansion of the slave trade through the charter of the Royal African Company in 1672. In 1698, British Parliament ruled that any English subject could engage in the slave trade thus acknowledging the slave trade to be a profitable and accepted trade.
During the first 50 years of the 1700s, the number of Africans taken to the British colonies rose from 5,000 to 45,000 a year. It was through this trade and the passing of legislation that led England to become the number one exporter and trafficker of slaves in the world, far surpassing Spain and Portugal.

Works Cited:

"Colonial Laws." PBS Online. 5 March 2011. http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/aia/part1/1h315.html.

"From Indentured Servitude to Slavery." PBS Online. 5 March 2011.

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/aia/part1/1narr3.html.

"Virginia Recognizes Slavery." PBS Online. 5 March 2011.

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/aia/part1/1p262.html.

"Royal African Company Established." PBS Online. 5 March 2011.

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/aia/part1/1p269.html

"From Indentured Servitude to Slavery," PBS Online, 5 March 2011, http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/aia/part1/1narr3.html.

Ibid.

"Virginia Recognizes Slavery," PBS Online, 5 March 2011, http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/aia/part1/1p262.html.

"From Indentured Servitude to Slavery," PBS Online, 5 March 2011, http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/aia/part1/1narr3.html.

"Colonial Laws," PBS Online, 5 March 2011, http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/aia/part1/1h315.html.

"From Indentured Servitude to Slavery," PBS Online, 5 March 2011, http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/aia/part1/1narr3.html.

"Royal African Company Established," PBS Online, 5 March 2011, http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/aia/part1/1p269.html.....

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