US History

U.S. History Study Guide

4.14 Slavery in North America Slavery first came to the North American colonies in 1619 when English colonist John Rolfe of Jamestown purchased black laborers from a Dutch trader. Soon Africans began pouring into the colony. Slavery was practiced throughout the American colonies and African-American slaves helped build the economic foundations in the United States. Slaves of the Southern British Colonies Slavery became the heart of southern colonial society and the economy. The southern colonies evolved from a society with slaves to a slave society. As tobacco and cotton markets grew stronger the southern colonies became more and more dependent on slave labor. Much different than other European powers, slave masters in the southern colonies paid attention to their slaves’ health, clothing, and food supply. Not because of a sense of humanity, but because the masters wanted the slaves to form families and reproduce. This would lessen demand for expensive imported slaves. Slaves of the Northern British Colonies There were significant differences between slavery in the Northern English and Southern English colonies. Most slaves in the North lived in cities and worked in homes or shops. Few families owned more than a handful of slaves. The crops of the Northern colonies tended to be less intensive labor crops, like wheat and corn, this differed dramatically with slavery on the plantations which cultivated tobacco and cotton which was very labor intensive. Northern slaves also had more opportunities to become literate, learn a skill, and earn wages outside servitude. 4.15 Conflicts Leading to the French and Indian War The Queen and Kings Wars As colonies in North America became established, all sides began to test their boundaries and expand their claims to land. Fighting in Europe between these powers would create fighting in the colonies. Although minor skirmishes, they would set the table for a final fight to who would be the master of the lands of North America. King William's War From 1689 to 1697 war raged between the English and French in North America. It was the first of the Inter-colonial Wars where England and France fought for domination of North America. It took its name from William III of England and was a spillover from a war in Europe. The fighting in North America began with a series of guerilla tactics and raids by the French and their Native American allies on English colonial settlements. The French and Native American forces raided New York along with several villages along the Canadian border of New Hampshire and what would be Maine. Many

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