Slavery in the Colonies

“Every measure of prudence, therefore, ought to be assumed for the eventual total extirpation of slavery from the United States ... I have, throughout my whole life, held the practice of slavery in ... abhorrence." -- John Adams, in a letter to Robert Evans, June 8, 1819

Slavery had been in practice for centuries before America was born. Any nation which overran another nation would automatically consider the conquered population to be their “property”, along with their farms, cattle and other possessions. The Pharaohs of Egypt considered the Children of Israel to be their property by right of power, just as the Romans would later enslave the Greeks and absorb their culture. Historically, slavery was not a matter primarily of the color of a person's skin, or if two people “looked different”.

As colonies in the New World developed and expanded, and more and more people were needed to perform physical labor, landowners were increasingly relying on white “indentured servants” to fill this need. An “indentured servant” was someone who would become a worker for another person to pay off a monetary debt, or to “work off” some crime or other transgression. It was not uncommon even for children to go to work for someone as an indentured servant to pay off a parent's debt (future U.S. Congressman and Hero of the Alamo, Davy Crockett, was sold into servitude when he was only 12 years old to pay off a debt of his father's).

But as the tobacco and rice crops (and later cotton) expanded in the south, the need came for an ever growing work force. It was not surprising then, that the already thriving African slave trade would step forward to fill this need. Inter-tribal warfare in West Africa saw black conquerors selling black “prisoners of war” to white slavers for profit. And at this time, Arab/Muslim nations were dealing in African slaves, while they also kidnapped, bought and sold thousands of white Europeans. Even today, slavery is still a scourge in the Middle East and in sub-Saharan West Africa, with over 20 million persons being held in countries ranging from Sudan to India, from Pakistan to Haiti. For example, in 1993, the US State Department estimated that up to 90,000 blacks were owned by North African Arabs.

And many of the first Africans forcibly brought to America were considered indentured, and were freed after their term was completed. Mathias de Sousa was one of nine indentured servants brought to Maryland in 1634 by Father Andrew White, a Jesuit priest. After his “indentured contract” was finished some four years later, de Sousa became the commander of a ship and entered the fur trade. Following a successful business career, de Sousa would serve in the Maryland legislative assembly in 1642; one of the many Freemen of African descent to do so.

“Negro Slavery is an evil of Colossal magnitude and I am utterly averse to the admission of Slavery into the Missouri Territories" -- John Adams, in a letter to William Tudor

So the “dirty business” of slavery as an ages old practice would infect the American Colonies for economic reasons. And, by the time of the Revolution, it was so entrenched in the Southern States that the efforts by men such as John Adams and Thomas Jefferson, among many others, to ban slavery directly in the Declaration of Independence had to be put aside temporarily, lest the Southern States not participate in the separation from England. And many of the signers felt that slavery would soon be legislated out of existence anyway. Vermont would ban slavery in its State Constitution as early as 1777, with Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Connecticut and Rhode Island enacting laws to free their slaves between 1783-84. But it would take a bloody Civil War some 80 years later to finally end the matter.

By the time of the Battle of Bunker Hill, there were a great many Freemen among the black population of New England. Some of them were seamen who had been picked up on voyages as replacement hands after original crew members had jumped ship or died. Some, like Mathias de Sousa, were indentured servants whose term of service was over, and who were now trying to make their way in a field of business for which they'd been trained. When it became obvious that there would be a protracted conflict with the King's Soldiers, many masters sent their slaves into battle in their place, with the understanding that, if the slaves fought well, they would be given their freedom. Also at this time, Britain offered slaves their freedom if they would fight for the King – and many of them did.

"I never mean... to possess another slave by purchase; it being among my first wishes to see some plan adopted by which slavery in this country may be abolished by slow, sure, and imperceptible degrees.” - George Washington September 9, 1786

And it must be pointed out that many of our Founding Fathers actually owned slaves. George Washington, for example, grew up in Virginia where culturally, slavery had been ingrained for generations and was a matter of daily life. And while still a great moral wrong, it can't be denied that the relationships between many masters and slaves were very good (the Washington household also had white indentured servants at this time). Washington considered his personal body servant, a slave named “Billy Lee”, to be his closest friend. A look at the slave quarters in Washington's home of Mount Vernon shows a large living area with bunk beds and a central fireplace. In his will, George Washington freed all of his slaves, even providing for them financially – especially Billy Lee.

Of course, it is easy for us to see the distinction looking back from our vantage point in history. But it is reasonable to understand how an uneducated slave, with few options, could trade freedom for the security of having enough food and shelter. But without the freedom to get an education and to try for something better, there would be no chance to improve a person's place in life. Today, this should be a cautionary tale to us all, as there are many different kinds of slavery to be aware of.

"I am principled against this kind of traffic in the human species... and to disperse the families I have an aversion.” - George Washington, in a letter to Robert Evans, August 18, 1799

As the sun rose on the morning of June 17, 1775, it is estimated that between 20 – 25% of the brave men standing on Breed's Hill were of African descent – both slave and free. Each man chose his side in the upcoming fight very carefully. They knew that cutting ties with England and making their own way in the world, while sometimes scary and dangerous, still offered them the best chance for personal success and spiritual growth. These heroic men included black patriots like Peter Salem, who would personally fell British Major John Pitcairn and is immortalized in John Trumbull's famous painting of the battle. Salem Poor, another Freeman at Bunker/Breed's Hill, is known for mortally wounding British Lieutenant Colonel James Abercrombie. And there were many others who would fight for the chance to succeed – to get an education and then make the most of that chance to move up in this Land of Opportunity. And then to pass that precious right on to their children and their children's children.

Will we be able to stand as tall as the Patriots of Bunker Hill when our time comes to decide?

Discussion Questions

1. While the American Colonies were struggling to form a new nation, many were also fighting to end slavery at the same time. Why do you think it took so long for good, Christian people to finally abolish the scourge of slavery in America? Why would God allow such an evil like slavery to happen across so many centuries?
2. Is it easier to accept an evil like slavery if many people tell you that it is an acceptable way of life, and it has been part of your life since the day you were born? How hard do you think it would have been in 1776 to speak out, when many citizens were too busy with their everyday lives to think about it? Did it matter that many slaves were content with their situation?
3. Discuss the fact that men like George Washington and Thomas Jefferson were slave-holders. Does this negate their writings about liberty and freedom? Did they grow to realize through their own writings how wrong it was to allow slavery to exist in America? Does it make slavery any “less wrong” if the slaves are treated humanely?
4. Some of the African slave routes that brought uprooted families and misery to Colonial America are still being used today. Why do you think there is so little said about this modern day horror? Do some research and share what you find with your group.

Download the PDF of this page
Previous Page     Next Page