In what year were the first recorded Africans brought to an English colony in North America, and where?
In \(1619\), a group of '20 and odd' captive Africans were brought to Point Comfort in the colony of Virginia. Initially, they may have held the status of indentured servants.
What were 'slave codes'?
Laws passed by colonial assemblies to define the status of enslaved people and the rights of their owners. These codes solidified slavery, stripped enslaved people of all rights, and made their condition permanent and hereditary.
How did the economic role of slavery differ between the Southern and Northern colonies?
In the South, slavery was central to the large-scale plantation economy (tobacco, rice, indigo). In the North, slavery was less widespread but still present, with enslaved people working in homes, on smaller farms, and in maritime trades.
How did the invention of the cotton gin in \(1793\) impact slavery in the United States?
It made cotton production highly profitable, dramatically increasing the demand for enslaved labor in the Deep South. This led to a massive expansion of slavery, often called the 'Second Middle Passage,' within the U.S.
What was the Stono Rebellion?
A significant slave uprising that took place in South Carolina in \(1739\). A group of enslaved people attempted to march to Spanish Florida for freedom. It was suppressed, leading to even harsher slave codes.
How did enslaved people resist their bondage on a daily basis?
Through acts of 'day-to-day resistance' such as working slowly, feigning illness, breaking tools, and maintaining cultural traditions, language, and family structures as a form of psychological survival.
What was the Three-Fifths Compromise in the U.S. Constitution?
A compromise at the \(1787\) Constitutional Convention that counted each enslaved person as three-fifths of a person for the purposes of determining a state's population for representation in Congress and for federal taxation.
Did the American Revolution's ideals of liberty and freedom apply to enslaved people?
No. Despite the Declaration of Independence stating 'all men are created equal,' the institution of slavery continued and was protected by the new U.S. Constitution, creating a fundamental contradiction in the new nation.
What was the 'task system' of labor, often used on rice plantations?
A system where enslaved people were assigned a specific task to complete each day. Once the task was finished, they had more control over their remaining time, allowing for small-scale gardening or other activities.
What was the 'gang system' of labor, often used on cotton and sugar plantations?
A system where enslaved people worked from sunrise to sunset in groups or 'gangs' under the constant supervision of an overseer. It was a more brutal and regimented system than the task system.
