HIST 1F96 Lecture Notes - Lecture 6: Triangular Trade, Portuguese Africans, Scurvy
Document Summary
Natives captives are primary focus in engaging wars. Native slavery isn"t successful (natives can escape because they know the land, hostility, reversed gender roles (women farmed too) and diseases) because the population dropped. Passage is paid in return for 5-7 years of service. When freed, slaves would receive 50 acres of land. Peasants had an opportunity to become landowners. Servants were treated as property (bought, sold, traded, gambled, willed in inheritance) Servants could be whipped and were given lengthened contracts for offences: effects of declining mortality rate: In early virginia, most slaves died before their contract ended. 1660"s, mortality rate drops (deeper wells, orchards, better conditions on transatlantic passage, fewer indian attacks) Now indentured slaves live out their contracts and start growing tobacco. More production of tobacco, decreases its cost: planter response: Planters try to protect their privileged position. Buy available land around jamestown (ex-servants now live on fringes of the colony)
