Factors to the Rise of Slavery essays

Factors to the Rise of Slavery essays The growth of the black slave trade was due to the decline of indentured servants, the need for a disease resistant workforce, and a workforce that was easily manageable; a combination of economic, geographic, and social factors. The New World at the dawn of American slavery, was at a rapid expansion rate. After years of hardship and meager harvests, landowners were finally making profits from crops that took many years to achieve. As more farmland was being planted, the need for more help was increasingly important. At first, most farmers had turned to white indentured servants from Europe, but the number of indentured servants declined due to increasingly better conditions back in England. Indentured servants concluded that the quality of life was better back in England, than the Americas. Landowners had to look for a different workforce. Previously, black slaves had been used, but only in small numbers. Most black slaves were sent to the West Indies instead, then slave traders found a new market: the Americas. Due to the high price of slaves, normally, a landowner would buy a much cheaper indentured servant, but since they were in short supply, a slave was the better option. Slaves, although mo re expensive, were more cost efficient compared to an indentured servant. A slave could be kept for life instead of a few years, and the landowner was under no obligation to give a slave incentive like land. These slaves were essentially perfect for the Americas. Geographically, the changing climate conditions of the Americas played an important role to the growth of black slavery. In the south, conditions were hot and humid. Landowners needed people who could work in these harsh conditions. Slaves from West Africa were already acquainted to the humid tropical-like weather. Landowners also needed people who were more resistant to diseases like smallpox or malaria. Black slaves ...