Origins of Slavery

Origins of Slavery

• Slavery was a feature of history
• In the New World, three types of labor system was used by the 17th century: Encomienda System, Indentured Servant System and Slavery.
• West African slavery was the worst.

The Encomienda System

• Involved the Amerindians
• This system was not successful because the indigenous population was exterminated by the mid 16th century

The Indentured Servant System

• Involved the Europeans
• This system failed due to:
  • Indentured servants dying from tropical diseases
  • Finding it difficult to labor in the sun
  • Unreliable contract terms (4-5 years for free passage or land), and a lack of land availability
  • Many running away

Slavery

• This involved the West Africans
• In 1640, the Sugar Revolution in Barbados began
• This revolution spread quickly to British and French colonies as profits grew
• Large estates or plantations needed reliable and efficient labor to cultivate sugar
• Africans seemed to fit the criteria

African Slavery

• The Portuguese first obtained the asiento from Spain (1515-1580) to sell slaves to her New World territories.

Why Spain First Imported Slaves

• Spain was the sole owner of the New World except Brazil in the early 16th century
• The Indigenous population was exterminated by the 1550s
• Indigenous people were not suitable for hard agricultural work and had a high mortality rate in the mines
• Colonists needed a steady labor supply to produce for export
• A Spanish priest, Las Casa, suggested using African slaves to save the Indians

Enslavement

• A slave was the property of his master for life and children born to enslaved people also became the property of the master
• Slavery provided a steady, reliable, efficient, and cheap labor source for sugar estates until the 18th century

The use of African slavery reasons:

• West Africans were immune to tropical diseases
• The captured were agricultural laborers with the required skills
• Slaves were considered heathens who would be introduced to Christianity although were later denied free access to churches
• They were physically strong and able to endure hard work
• They practiced their own form of slavery in their homeland

Obtaining West African Slaves

• By time the British slave trade was to end, some 10-15 million slaves were forcibly taken from their homeland.
• Raids: Villages were set on fire at night and villagers were herded and captured
• Ethnic Wars: Chiefs bartered prisoners captured in wars; criminals and debtors were also sold
• Kidnapping: West Africans were kidnapped and sold to slave traders

The Journey to the Coast

• Captives were fastened in pairs with chains around their legs, secured in groups of four with ropes
• They also used a Y stick fastened around their necks and the stem resting on the shoulders of the person immediately behind
• They were guarded by armed men
• Journey to the coast was long and could take up to three months
• Carried their own small provisions in sweltering heat while chained
• The weak and sick were left behind to die

Effects on West Africa from the Slave Trade

• Population reduction as historians estimate between 10 to 15 million slaves were forcibly taken
• Families were separated
• Homes were destroyed
• Raiders took the young and strong, leading to a decline in labor and production
• Distrust increased among neighbors and friends
• Local production decreased as skilled people were taken and European goods were in higher demand
• Guns and ammunition were traded for slaves, increasing security for some groups but allowing them to raid others
• African chiefs became rich from trading and some expanded their kingdoms, such as Benin
• The trade opened new routes in West Africa
• Employment was provided for locals as white slave raiders or food suppliers
• Some chiefs charged taxes for coffles to pass through their territory to develop it
• Other chiefs prioritized the slave trade over their political duties

At the Coast

• Slaves were received by a factor or agent who inspected and recorded them
• They were held at forts owned or controlled by the Dutch, French, English, and Portuguese -The Portuguese were the first to begin trading slaves to the Caribbean in 1515

The Slaves

• Slaves were divided into two groups: those accepted for the journey to the West Indies, and mackrons who were rejected as too sick or weak
• Sound slaves were branded on the breast with a hot iron as an identifying mark
• Branded slaves were kept in barracoons (small huts) and watched by guards

Middle Passage

• Agents collect goods like pots, pans, and mirrors from ships arriving from Europe
• Ships prepared with box-like shelves (150 cm long, 50 cm wide) for transport to the Caribbean
• Slaves are examined by a ship's surgeon before embarking, then packed on shelves with iron shackles around their ankles, chained to each other
• Men are placed at the back, women and younger ones in the front, and crewmen collected supplies
• Journey from West Africa to the New World is called the Middle Passage, lasting six to twelve weeks depending on weather, pirates etc.
• Chained, suffered cramps, allowed on deck once a week, and some jumped overboard
• Horrible stench, sores, and a bucket of water mixed with vinegar was used to wash out below deck
• Cries and screams jarred the nerves, kept below deck and suffered temporary blindness when exposed to the sun
• Refused to eat had their teeth knocked out; women were raped
• The dead were not removed until feeding time
• Danger of catching diseases, high mortality rate and inadequate food supplies occurred

Arrival in the Caribbean

• Slaves faced being sold to plantation owners after arrival
• The slaves would be sold in two main methods: scramble and auction -The best slaves were sold by auction, in which they were considered the healthiest -The enslaved that showed any signs of unhealthiness would be sold by the scramble method

Logwood and Mahogany

• Logwood and mahogany were produced in British Guiana, Jamaica, and British Honduras
• British Honduras was the chief supplier before Emancipation, and only strong males were selected for work
• Logwood is dyewood that grows in Belize; used to dye woolen goods black, grey, purple, and dark red
• Slaves went to the forest with a white overseer for days or weeks, armed with machetes and axes
• Arrangements were made to get the lumber to the ports
• By the 1770s, too much logwood on the market led to a price drop
• Cheaper man-made dyes in Europe then decreased the demand
• By 1779, mahogany replaced logwood and dominated British Honduras, mahogany was needed for shipbuilding and cabinet making

Wood Cutting

• Wood cutting was seasonal, which required slaves to spend long periods away from their families to find, cut, and trim the trees
• Three groups of slaves involved, with numbers ranging from 10-50 and the logs were taken through temporary paths to the riverside and floated downriver
• A foreman or captain was responsible for coordinating

The Huntsman

• Was very important to the process and regarded as a skilled slave
• His job was to search for the trees, which were scattered in forests; others cut or trimmed the trees

Similarities:

• Only strong males were used, the males stayed away from families for long periods, the tools/tasks were similar and white supervisors/overseers were present

Differences:

• Mahogany slaves spent a longer time in the fields, which required a huntsman, a different organization of labour and enjoyed 'recreational activities

Slaves Work with Coffee, Cotton and Cocoa

The Stages of Coffee

• Coffee was grown as an export crop predominantly in Jamaica, Dominica, Grenada and St. Lucia
• Trees had to be burnt and cut and the land prepared for the coffee seedlings
• The forest or trees had to be burnt and cut and the land prepared for the coffee seedlings The fields in even rows were marked out with an equal distance from each other Terraces were built:
  • For convenience -To prevent erosion
• The field slaves planted ground provisions between the young trees and trees were planted as protection from the strong winds The field slaves planted ground provisions between the young trees and trees were planted as protection from the strong winds -At midday -At sunset -At the end of the session baskets were checked and the slaves who did not meet the required amount were lashed
• Berries passed through a pumping; skin removal occurred
• Washed naked berries in cisterns; washed slaves spread them to dry in drying houses
• Children removed spoilt berries
• Other slaves packed the good beans for exporting; moved on carts for port and shipment

Cotton Production

• Grown in Dominica, Grenada, Montserrat, St. Vincent, Jamaica and British North America- chiefly Louisiana -Slaves would clear land for the cotton seeds; one metre apart -The soil were fertilized using animal manure -Other cash crops are planted between to prevent soil erosion
• The crop boll picked one by one, and the bolls did not open at the same time- slaves had to pick and pick
• Each slave provided sack - slave drivers checked amount
• The bolls dried on platform
• Old slaves took the trash and leaves
• Others slaves separated fiber- then packed and shipped

Cocoa Production

• Produced chiefly in Jamaica, St. Vincent, Dominica and Grenada
• The slaves would clear land and plant the carvings directly
• Best harvest harvested after 8 years
• Plant seedlings are planted in a nursery; the slaves planted around the plants
• Harvest seasons with 5 1/2 months to mature; slaves constantly weeded
• Slaves equipped with machetes; dropped them in baskets and the slaves used machetes to split the pods open
• The fruit dried for 5-7 days

18th Century Sugar Estate or Plantation

Land Use

• Agriculture: Canefields woodlands and provision grounds
• Buildings: Factory, workshops and hospital/goal Living: Great House, overseers and slave huts

Canefields

• Most land was used for the cultivation of the canes - Jamaica had land for other crops

Provision Grounds

• Small individual plots of cash crops: plantains, yams, cassava and vegetables

Woodlands

• The estates needed the wood to provide fuel for the boiling house, for cooking, etc., Lumber was also used to repair broken fences/build sheds.

Factory

• Very important area of any sugar estate and was used for the manufacturing process -Mill -Boiling House -Trash House -Curing House -Distillery

Workshops

• The work area designated to the artisans where tools and unfinished work is kept.

Hospitals

• Makeshift area; where the sick, convalescing, infirmed and new mothers are "hosted" and used for punishment

The Great House

• Was the largest house of the plantation and belonged to the owner and his space. The furniture was imported.

The Overseers House

• Second Largest of the plantation meant for the overseer; medicine/clothing rations

Slave Huts

• Made of thatch and daub with little to no furniture - used only for sleeping to facilitate the work

Work division

• White employees and slaves

White Employees

• The managers (overseers), clerks and bookkeepers

The Slaves

• Made the largest bulk
• Two types of Slaves: African and Creole
  • Domestic Slaves -The 'crème de la crème;' the slaves who worked in the Great House -Artisans/Skilled Slaves -The most valuable; the slaves connected to products and raw sugar -Field Slaves -The most strenuous positions divided into 3 Gangs -First Gang -Those who cut cane -Second Gang -Pregnant, convalescing; weeds -Third gang: the 'pickney' Gang
    • Young children assigned light tasks

Social

• -After seasoning the new slave would be paired with a Creole slave

18th Century Sugar Estate- Social Divisions

There was limited relation between the social structure Social Contact

• Planters, overseers and white employees - issuing orders and punishments
• Domestic slaves- constant contact for assisting with personal tasks
• Overseer/ Field and Artisan: issue of rations and food for clothes
• Medical care
• Whites: field Slaves: holiday

Sexual Contact

• Planters believed slaves should perform any task
• Whites vs slave

Field Slave Schedule

• Call- extra grass burnt: chop can tops
• 8-9am: breakfast
• 12pm- lunch

Harvest

• Machetes were ready to be used, however each slave had to hit a specific length-"fraggots"-for rhythm. There were lookouts in case cane was stolen.

Carts

• Slaves wove canes and loaded into "Wains"

Mills

Common Mills

• Wind
• Water
• Animal 2 Mills ensured productivity

Animal Mills

• Back up mills which made the slaves dependant on another nature

WindMils

-Common in Leeward Islands -Water Mill: Stream use- Jamaica/Guiana

At the Mill

• Juice was produced from the rollers made of iron; another group kept area in tact and trash removed for boiling house.

Boiling House

• The juice with lime in copper pots that lead to evaporation - syrup. This was all stored/cooled.

Curing House

• Hogsheads used in Curing house for three weeks with beams.

Estate to Ship

• Sealed and conveyed via wheels and Europe Port: Slaves unload those; will be sent to the ware house; hired to unload and draymen to transport

Caribbean to Britain

• Made merchant arrangements- and then duties charged and shipped, etc.

Difficulties Platers Faced

• Storms and disruption
• High cost of processing
• Risk of seizure
• Lower prices due to competition

African Culture Retained

• Stifle of religion - culture continued... beliefs/practices -After life -Spirit world (Puppies) -Struggle of good/Evil
• Magic: Obeah and Myaism (ill or harm vs. love etc.) using herbs.
• Music
• Ancestral sprits and chanting

Surviving Slavery Practices...

• Secret Nights
• OB as supplants for doctor
• Funeral preservers
• Owning language for communicate Drums = reviving. Many planters would buy slaves from Africa for skills

Food

Meals that were back in Africa ex) yam etc.: Oil in Trinidad Dress: Material= Blue or Tie Head

Language

New sounds - slaves from different areas created a new tongue, "patais"

Dance

• All events involved dance and had much beat...instruments used: Tambourines and xylophones- body movement. Types- Brukins and Kumina

Social relations

• Divisions, slave VS Slaves: limited relationship between master/slaves
• Occasions Christmas and Festivals
• Other items given out. ex) clothes, craft products, Obea admin, stories etc, with other slaves