POSC 381 Lecture Notes - Lecture 1: Indentured Servant, Unfree Labour, Code Noir
Document Summary
Sold to slave traders and sent across atlantic ocean. Women in africa could trade, own property, and sometimes collectively influence political decisions, but they did not exercise power over men. Chattel slavery in the american south was completely different than the slavery in africa, which was more of indentured servitude or some other type of unfree labor. Different ways for a someone in africa to pass into slavery. Polygyny -- slave wives in great demand. Few second generation slaves in african slavery. Male slaves could still sometimes become patriarchs of free families. American culture nowadays is anything but a melting pot, and this vision of a diverse nation has lost its credibility and appeal. However, idea that each ethnic group--or each ethnic and gender group--represents one element has remained strong. Quaker settlers in 1681, 150 slaves brought in 1684. Most quaker families owned only 1 or 2 slaves, hardly ever more than 4; no gang labor.
