Views on Africans Slavery and European Servants - Essay Example

7th February Views on Africans slavery and European servants Historians have been deeply dividedover the reasons why African became slaves and the Europeans were servant since enslavement of African was not justifiable under any circumstance though some of European justified enslavement on racism. Racial slavery meant that all the servants those that were imported and brought to the country were accounted to be slaves. Africans were not Christians during the colonial time and this meant that if an African is imported to the European land was to be a slave since they were not Christians in their native country. All slaves were subjected to the masters and any slave who would resist the duty given would be punished of even face death. Racism was the order of the day, African Americans were normally referred to as African, colored, Negro, Afro- American and others were referred as blacks. Anybody with African ancestry was considered as African American and thus they were subjected to enslavement, laws were written to define the group of African American and what they were supposed to do and even the mode of transport they would use. The first Africans who arrived in the European land were under the control of the Portuguese, Spanish and white settlers. Some of Africans were slaves and others were free looking for green pasture in the European land, but the latter changed since any African ancestry was referred as a slave. Africans who were imported either would go to South America, Central America and the Caribbean area. Those who were looking for greener pastures in the European land had the desire to labor since the land was plentiful and the laborers were scarce, but later were subjected to enslavement (Elizabeth et al 36). In the 16th century, Africans who arrived were considered as white servants who were from Europe, but during 17th century there was a clear difference that existed between the blacks and the white servants. This meant that racial discrimination started and it was during this period in 1740 when slavery system in the colonial American was fully developed (Steinfeld 61). During this period, laws were declared for example a Virginia law that was declared to be chattel personal that was in the hands of their owners. When the English colonies won independence and direct opposition to slavery was announced, though in spite numerous ideological conflicts from human rights and others who condemned enslavement, slavery system was maintained up to 1865. In the North America a revolution occurred and slavery was abandoned, making the South America increase demand for cheap labor in the tobacco growers and cotton farmers where the blacks were enslaved (Richard 34). Life was very hard in the plantations and Africans were not considered by any means, men were separated from their wives, working for many hours without getting rest. In the plantations gang labor was common type of employment, brutality was common while working, punishment was given when one duty was not complete. Slaves would not posses anything and they could not even present any evidence in the court if it was against the whites (Zipf 21). Housing facilities, food, and clothing were of poor quality so long as the work output was high and pleased the masters, again Africans were not allowed to be taught to read and write. The reason why they were not supposed to be taught how to read and write was because the white did not want the African to know their rights. When slavery was introduced it resulted to the emergence of racism, since Europeans did not consider people appearance and origins for those who were working. In the Virginia society, race was more considered for one to be enslaved thus the blacks were more highly considered since they could not file a case against any white. Due to these oppressions, some Africans escaped from the slavery and moved to Canada while others lived in African heritage under difficult circumstances and willing to be imported back to their mother countries. Another decision that was made to justify enslavement was due to price and availability of free laborers who were the Africans comparing with indentured servants. Due to the availability of slaves from the Africa and the cost was low to get the laborers who were from African ancestry, many European considered black due to financial options (Torabully 87). Indentured servants were used in the beginning of colonialism in Virginia since they were not paid high as the white who used to work in the plantations so they were considered as a cheap labor source. As years passed on, indentured servants became unreliable since many of them had the privilege to get guns and they were fully armed like Englishmen. This created anarchy since those white who would engaged in battle or try to oppress the indentured servants would still be confronted for the same. The main reason why the indentured servants were armed was due to security purpose since they had to protect themselves from the Indian raids, pirates and thieves. Due to discrimination, African slaves were not allowed to be armed and as a result there were no rebellions in American slavery (Perkins 168). Another reason why the African slaves were in large numbers was that they had no right to view their ideas and this made a difference with the indentured servant who believed that they had the same rights as Englishmen and they were not supposed to be treated harshly like the blacks. This made the Englishmen to be able to issue more severe rules and punishment only to the Africans. Farmers, planters, merchants and shopkeepers find it difficult to hire workers who could not be paid and thus they came up with a solution that they could transport young and energetic workers from Britain or German states. This meant that they would work for several years and they could pay the cost of their transport cost and later they could start earning during the agreed period of time (Walton 54). During this time of working tirelessly, they were not paid but accommodation, clothing and training were provided to an individual. During this period, those who were hired were supposed to be loyal to their masters and ready to work any time they are called and thus one had the privilege to be trained either business or other related course. Comparing the African slaves with indentured servants it was clear that slaves from the Africa were sold at cheaper cost since the African were willing to sell those who used to be thieves and those who were unacceptable to the community making sure they were eliminated from the community. Indentured servants went up in price thus making the Englishmen to consider Africans a lot as slaves (Gordon 97). When the indentured servants refused to go to Virginia in large numbers, the prices of slaves went down making the Europeans to get the African at low cost and the reason was that only men from indentured servants were willing to work at plantations since women were unable to work, comparing with the African men who could work and their women still capable of doing manual work. The bacon’s rebellion was another reason why the indentured servants were not highly considered according to Berkeley since they were allowed to petition the Englishmen and even to access of arms (Berkeley 78). These concerns made the Europeans to consider Africans more, indentured servants became less attractive as source of laborers since they were claiming their land which they had agreed that during a certain period of enslavement they were to be given land. This decision of calming land made Englishmen not to consider them again and so they had to go to those who could not read and write (Abbott 45). This made the Africans to be readily available and since many who were imported were not Christians then they were enslaved and they could be regulated in a manner that indentured servants could not. This revolution limited the number of slaves that were imported from African and even from other countries since they were not willing to work due to insecurity and the death of Africans and indentures servants. This revolution made the number of slaves to lower in plantations thus making them to consider the Africans. Conclusion Based on the above discussion, it is clear that the school of thought that focused on inherent racism within English society that differentiated Africans from Europeans and justified the enslavement of the Africans makes the most sense. Racial discrimination was normally considered when the slaves were imported since indentured servants were not available as the Africans in large number and at a lower cost, this was due to the rebellion and still they would work for a contract that was agreed for a period of time, then they would start business or they start earning like the Englishmen. Africans were unable to read and white and thus they were disadvantaged thus their rights was undermined thus being considered as inferior. The living conditions for African slaves was pathetic even after working for many hours under harassment comparing with indenture servants who were given good living conditions and clothing this was a form of racial discrimination. Works Cited Abbott, E. Colonists in Bondage: White Servitude and Convict Labor in America. Chapel Hill: University Of North Carolina Press.1776.Print Berkeley, C. The Colony Of Virginia: A Study of The System Of Indentured Labor in the American Colonies. New York: McGraw-Hill Professional.1895.Print Elizabeth, C., Edward, B and Jon G. Major problems in American History. New York: Cengage Learning, 2011. Print. Gordon, L. The Historical Evolution of Caribbean Society in its Ideological Aspects. London: Macmillan Publisher. 2004. Print. Perkins, John. The Convict Workers Under Supervision, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. 1988. Print. Richard, H. Racialism in North America. New Jersey: Prentice Hall .1971.Press. Steinfeld, R. Coercion, Contract, and Free Labor in the Nineteenth Century. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.2001.Print. Torabully, K. An Anthology of the Indian Labour. London: Diaspora Anthem Press. 2002. Print. Walton, L. Indentured Labor, Caribbean Sugar: Chinese and Indian Migrants to The British. Britain: West Indies.1993.Print. Zipf, K. Labor of Innocents: Forced Apprenticeship. New York: Chicago University. 1715. Print. Read More