Slavery in Africa and History of Migration of African Slaves into the New World - Essay Example

Why was Africa the source of the enslaved population of the new world between the 16th and 18th Centuries? A. Introduction 1. Background on Slavery in general Exploitation of labour in a systematic way without the consent of people involved is the core nature of slavery. A person who is a slave is considered a property of another person who has all the right to do anything with him as he pleases. It happened in various cultures throughout history of mankind. It is said that the earliest records of slavery is from the Code of Hammurabi (1760 BC) which states that it is already an established institution in Babylon (Wikipedia) signifying that it was accepted occurrence at that time. Slavery lasted until 1863 (Emerson College) wherein slaves from Africa made the most dents in its history particularly during the period of the New World which mainly refers to the Americas (Answers.com). 2. Background on African slavery Slavery in Africa has been practiced for thousands of years making it an established industry within the continent’s history. Slaves were put to work n courts, armies, farms, industries, trading and households (Braudel 1984) across African societies where protection and incorporation of slaves within their owners are mostly practiced. In some areas within Africa, at least approximately one-third of its populations are slaves like in Senegambia, Sudan, Ghana, Segou, and Songhai Kaname, among others between years 750 to 1861 (Wikipedia). There are internal and external forces that gave rise to slavery in Africa (Mills, W). Domestic servitude escalated the occurrence of slavery in Africa which is mainly an internal force. Trans-Saharan and Trans-Atlantic trades are external forces that escalated slavery in Africa. These are offshore trading wherein slaves are traded to outsiders of Africa like European traders to work for other continents such as the one known as the New World. African slavery during the 15th century had been greatly influenced by the expeditions of Portuguese explorers who tried to expand its trade around the coast of Africa (History World Website). Portuguese explorers were mainly active in African shores during the whole of 16th century. Europeans fully penetrated African shores during the 17th century with the expansion of British and Dutch colonies. The Dutch were actually the first traders that brought African slaves to the New World. 3. Essay objectives This essay will discuss why was Africa the source of the enslaved population of the New World between 16th and 18th centuries? Forces behind African slavery as well as its history will also be presented which will give a good backgrounder in answering the question for this essay. B. History of Migration of African Slaves into the New World Migration of slaves into the Americas or the New World became prominent during the 16th century when Europe surpassed the Arab World in the exports of African towards the Americas (Answers.com). European empire at that time held large colonial territories in the African continent. The first African slaves exported towards the Americas were in 1619 wherein twenty slaves travelled aboard a Dutch ship to work in the plantations in the State of Virginia. This number increased to hundreds of African slaves bonded on labour in 1650. Owning slaves became legal in Virginia and Maryland when it was passed into a law in 1660; hence every colony in these areas and other parts of North America had African slaves at the time of the American Revolution bonding them to provide labour in maritime trade, farming, and domestic chores, among others. Hundreds of thousands of African slaves were brought to North America by 18th century. Historical records showed that 40,000 African slaves were illegally exported into North America, known now as the United States, in 1808. Such illegal entries continued until 1861 (Emerson College). The total number of slaves imported from Africa between 16th and 18th centuries is estimated to a total of 9.3 million (McCaa 1997 as cited in NPS Ethnography Program). C. Factors Why Africa is the Source of Enslaved Population in the New World between 16th and 18th Centuries There are various factors why Africa became the source of enslaved population in the New World between 16th and 18th centuries. These factors are discussed in the succeeding sections. 1. Unsuitability of Native Americans for slavery work European colonizers enslave few Native Americans during late 15th century to do hard physical labour but found them unsuitable for such task particularly agricultural work as well as their lack of resistance against diseases that slaves commonly incur. Thus, they suffer tremendously in doing slavery works which incur the compassion of some friars who proposed to European colonial powers to import African slaves instead (Wikipedia). African slaves, on the other hand, were used to hard physical labour in an agricultural setting and proven to be more resistant to diseases. Also, another factor why it is not suitable to enslave North Americans was due to the fact that they were familiar with the colonial territories of European colonizers which made it easy for them to escape their owners. Thus, to remedy the situation, European colonizers traded weapons, wines and other products with slave traders from Africa to acquire African slaves and shipped to North America; hence the start of slave trading between Africa and North America. African slaves were sold as property and traded with proof of purchase or receipts (Emerson College). Thus African slaves were started to be imported in 1619 from America. 2. Best substitute for contracted works or indenture Landowners in various American colonies hired workers or servants from Europe who agree to work for their plantations and households for a fee and were limited to a number of years usually a minimum of four years. Most served such number of years to pay off their transportation from Europe to America. However, during the 1680 fewer Europeans were willing to work as servants for the landowners in America which prompted the latter to find another option to substitute for European servants working in their plantations. It was also the time wherein production of tobacco and other agricultural products had been expanding; hence the need for higher number of agricultural labour (Religious Tolerance 2006). As a result, landowners increase the number of slaves they brought from Africa. These were facilitated by various traders who usually go to the shores of Africa to buy products inherent to Africa. The decision to get African slaves as substitute for European workers increases its demand which also increase the number of slave trading between the two continents. This occurrence hugely impacted towards the search for slaves in Africa which make human trading one of its most profitable commodities. 3. Cost of African slaves were cheaper compared to hiring European indentures The cost of African slaves is cheaper at that time compared to signing indentures to work as labourers in landowners’ plantations. Purchasing an African slave in 1638 only cost $27 compared to the salary of a European labourer which is 70 cents per day (Religious Tolerance, 2006). Thus, in long term business costing efficiency, it is better to have African slaves to work on landowners’ plantations than employ European labourers. Days of paying European servants is highly expensive compared to one time cost of purchase of African slaves. 4. Language efficiency and agricultural skills of African slaves African slaves who worked with their European masters learned to speak and understand their language; hence they can easily communicate with them. Also, being capable to understand and speak the language of their masters, some of these slaves can be given not the ordinary task of human labour but positions that can help their masters manage their plantations well. Further, these slaves might have been tasked to bridge the communication barriers between their masters and newer batch of African slaves by acting as interpreters between them. Also, African slaves grew up in an agricultural setting; hence they are much more knowledgeable on maintaining agricultural fields than Americans (NPS Ethnography Program). Spanish conquistadores who sailed to Americas and operated mines in 16th century attested that the work of one African slave can be equated to the works of at least four Indians or more (NPS Ethnography Program). Thus, African slaves were preferred labour source for mining operations due to their tenacity and ability to survive in long hours of work. 5. Support attempts of expanded economic expeditions of European colonizers in America European nations strive for commercial dominance in its various expeditions between Africa and North America toppling Portuguese trading activities. Slaves from Africa are the most accessible means to help European powers facilitate their trade through the various labours they can provide. Also, slave trading became one of the most productive economic activities between 16th and 18th centuries. It is like hitting two birds with one stone to expand expedition in America and at the same time bring in slaves from Africa to work for its various plantations. In economic point of view, such arrangement generated profits for the colonizers particularly if they are constantly doing passage between Africa and America. Also, creating vast plantations in America expanded agricultural trades of Europeans by getting a lot of demand for agricultural products particularly tobacco from other countries and continents such as Brazil, Asia, among others. Also, African slaves provided labour force to implement the goal of Europeans to seek newer markets for trade. They were instrumental in providing labour force to build colonies, explore and clear lands, among others (NPS Ethnography Program). 6. Higher supply of African slaves from raiding expeditions during late 18th century Raiding expeditions by African Kingdoms in interior areas of Western Africa resulted to large number of captured slaves who were traded with the European traders (Wikipedia) in exchange for products they sell such as weapons, clothes and other products. These traders then shipped these African slaves to various colonies in North America. This actually becomes part of the Trans Atlantic Slave Trade that had taken its peak during the 18th century. Various kingdoms from Africa collaborated with European traders and colonizers to enhance slave trading activities and indirectly supported the goal of these explorers to create colonies within Africa and established trading routes. They are the one who advanced through the inner areas of Africa which Europeans cannot penetrate by raiding it or domestically colonizing it and capturing some members of the tribes there to be part of the number of slaves auctioned to the Europeans. Trading ports were actually established by the Europeans to facilitate trading of slaves usually near African shorelines which were safer and accessible for them. 7. Strengthen economies of African Kingdoms and New World colonies. African Kingdoms were mainly trading with Europeans between 16th and 18th centuries brought about by trade expeditions of the latter. Trading of human labour was the profitable source of economic activity among these Kingdoms. Thus, they were constantly looking for ways to expand the number of their slaves to trade profitably with Europeans. Europeans, on the other hand, during these periods were actively expanding their colonies in the New World and constantly looking for slaves to work on their colonies. Given that higher supplies of slaves are available from Africa, particularly West and Central Africa, Europeans consequently trade firs hand with African Kingdoms for slaves to be brought to the New World. African slave labour became an important factor in facilitating trans-atlantic agriculture and commercial trading between the New World and Africa. In fact, it supported the boom in the capitalist economy of the New World during the 17th and 18th centuries wherein demands for agricultural products were high (Central Oregon Community College). Having human labour to till and maintain various plantations of landowners in America made expansion of agricultural production successful in the area. It would never have been achieved without the contribution of African slaves. 8. Conversion of African slaves to Christianity Europeans who were basically doing explorations to propagate trade as well as Christianity religion have already converted many African slaves towards Christianity; hence making them preferable labour force in American colonies than Native Americans who were still strongly attached towards their cultural spiritual ways (NPS Ethnography Program). 9. Strengthen trading ties between Africa and Europeans establishing markets in America The conflicts within tribes or kingdoms in Africa in pursuit of capturing slaves led to destruction or abandonment of agricultural farms wherein settlers leave their areas to flee from ensuing wars between tribes. Thus, kingdoms lack the necessary products to support their subsistence which European traders can now provide from their various produce from their agricultural plantations. As time went by African communities relied closely to European traders for products. The latter increasingly demand barter of slaves in exchange for their goods (NPS Ethnography Program). D. Freeing of African Slaves African slaves gained freedom in America by buying off their freedom from their masters, joining the army and escaping from their masters. During the 18th century, two colonies in the Americas abolished slavery freeing entire African slaves (NPS Ethnography Program). Pennsylvania enacted “The Act of Gradual Abolition of Slavery” (Pennsylvania State Archives 2003 as cited in NPS Ethnography Program became the first legislative enactment in America. New York and New Jersey followed legislation of gradual emancipation of African slaves after 20 years by compensating slaveholders in releasing them (NPS Ethnography Program). Declaration of emancipation during the 1860s at the time of President Lincoln raise the struggle for freedom from slavery to a higher office which eventually boosted the morale of the slaves in America (History World). E. Conclusion Africa was the source of enslaved population in the New World precisely due to the role of Portuguese and European traders and explorers who have propagated the transport of African slaves towards Americas. Their search for new markets, increase economic advantage as well as propagating Christianity to other continents became major forces in the transport of African slaves towards America. Africa itself has inherent forces that made it the main source of slaves to America. Its people are known among Portuguese and European traders as resilient, skilful, able to adapt to their environment and intelligent. These are qualities that made these colonizers prefer African slaves to work on their plantations and mining operations. The ability of African slaves to learn their masters’ language became an important tool for landowners to transfer communication without any difficulty. Also, their skills particularly in agricultural production made them an asset to plantation owners. Experience of European and Portuguese colonizers working with them in their African colonies showed that they are resilient to diseases and physical labour; hence making them an asset in plantation operations. Bringing African slaves into Americas is mainly a matter of long term economic gain for landowners. Bringing them into their plantations is much cheaper compared to hiring servants from Europe and within America. Thus, in economic point of view having them work in these plantations with no fee at all increases the revenues of landowners as well as benefit them from the knowledge these slaves had in managing agricultural plantations as well as their ability to endure long hours of labour in the field. However, the migration of Africans to America through slavery trading had caused a lot of damage to African society in terms of long term economic gains, cultural conservation and social preservation. The damages caused by warring African kingdoms resulted to untilled agricultural lands that hampered production as well as limit resources for consumption of several areas in Africa which led it to be dependent unto external sources for their subsistence. The lost of its population also meant the lost of skills important for its economic operations such as skilled labourers or artisans that help promote their cultural heritage which had been put at risk. Also, lost of social ties among families whose members were sold to slavery broke societies that would have been more powerful had they been together and strong within their clans. In the end, broken families were left grieving for their lost members. Slavery was a harsh system in the history of mankind. None should have been bound to be bonded to people with higher means of income and levels in society. One should never buy their freedom because in the first place one is born and given by God a freedom to exercise his own exercise. Thus, the abolition of slavery system was the humane way of responding to respect for God’s creation. References History World. Slavery. Retrieved on 4 March 2008 from website http://www.historyworld.net/wrldhis/PlainTextHistories.asp?HistoryID=ac41&ParagraphID=# Braudel, F. (1984). Civilization and Capitalism Vol. III: The Perspective of the World. (originally published in French, 1979). Mills, W. Slave Trades and Abolition. Retrieved on 5 March 2008 from website husky1.stmarys.ca/~wmills/course316/16Slave_Trades.html Emerson College. History of Slavery. Retrieved on 07 March 2008 from website http://www.emerson.edu/ Courses/spring00/in123/slavetrickster/History.html Answers.Com. Slavery. Retrieved on 6 March 2008 from website http://www.answers.com/topic/history-of-slavery Wikipedia. Slavery. Retrieved on 5 March 2008 from website http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Slavery. U.S Department of the Interior, National Park Services. African American Heritage and Ethnography. Retrieved on 5 March 2008 from website http://www.nps.gov/ethnography/aah/aaheritage/histContextsD.htm Central Oregon Community College. Africa Slave Trade & European Imperialism. Retrieved on 5 March 2008 from website (web.cocc.edu/cagatucci/classes/hum211/timelines/htimeline3.htm,Africa Timelines Part III: Africa Slave Trade & European Imperialism) Religious Tolerance. A brief history of the "peculiar institution" of slavery 16th-18th centuries, in North America & Britain. Retrieved on 7 March 2008 from website http://www.religioustolerance.org/sla_hist.htm#16 Read More