The History of Slavery in America
The first instance of slavery in America dates back to 1619, when slaves from Africa were taken to the colony of North America to assist in the production of lucrative crops like tobacco. Slavery was then implemented in all of America's colonies in the 17th and 18th centuries. The growth of the economic foundation of the United States of America was significantly influenced by the domestic slave trade, which included African Americans. The international slave trade was outlawed in 1808, which was recognized as the official end of slavery, but it had no effect because slave smuggling had become commonplace. However, it was until the invention of the cotton gin in 1793 that made slavery to be significant to the Southern colonies, which depended on slaves for the production of the cotton.
The Impact of Slavery on American History
Nevertheless, by the mid-19th century, the expansion of American towards the west beside the growing rate of abolition movements in the Northern states provoked a great debate over slavery. The debate tore the country into two distinct groups. It was through the revolutions that the bloody American Civil War. Split the nation. Even though the victory for the union freed over four million slaves in the entire country, the legacy of the slavery continued to have an impact on the American history. The paper discussed and expounded more on the history of slavery in America while focusing specifically on the development of domestic trade in slaves from 1790 to 1860 and the effect on slavery in the colonies.
The Expansion of Domestic Trade in Slaves, 1790-1860
How would you explain the large and expanding domestic trade in slaves between 1790 and 1860? What combination of factors produced this result?
The consequences of the industrial uprising were a significant increase in production after 1790. One particular industry that had a boost at the period was the textile industry. It meant that more production was evident it, therefore, follows that there was an increase in the requirement of the supply of more and more cotton. The demand for cotton skyrocketed. America was divided into two section the Northern side, which was industrialized, and the southern side that depended on agriculture. Therefore, the Northern states produced the textile since they were industrialized while the Southern States became the leading cotton supplier since they had the large farm suitable for plantation of cotton.
However, they depended on slaves as a form of labor for the production of cotton. The cotton changed the direction of the American economy and the future racism. The production of the cotton crop increased significantly such that by 1840 the colonies from the south were producing while shipping over two-thirds of the total output of the world. The higher production rate gave the region a strong economic growth as well as the power.
On the other hand, the Northern states had increased the speed of textile production, therefore, increase the demand for the raw materials. The higher need for the raw materials forced the Southern Plantation owners to search for more workforce, and they settled on the slaves. However, at this that point in time, there was a restriction on slave trade or rather the importation of slaves. The restriction made the slave more valuable. The high demand for slaves by the Southern Plantation owners generated the "mania for buying Negroes." That was the origin of the domestic slave trade. At that time, the only resource for slaves was the local slave trade. Most of the plantation owners were whites. For this reason, the white farmers started searching for slaves in the upper South States.
Consequently, the domestic trade in slaves became a crucial commercial enterprise between 1790 and 1860. The business was operated through to systems the coastal and inland schemes. The coastal system was used for slaves who were sent to the sugar plantations in Louisiana. On the other hand, the inland system was used to mobilize the slaves who were shipped to the cotton plantations. However, the coastal scheme was so apparent in that it provided the slaves required by the expansion toward the west. The expansion toward the west was a major reason for the enlargement of the domestic trade in slaves since it needed more workforce to be sustained.
The Impact of the Domestic Slave Trade on Slavery in the Colonies
How did it affect slavery in the colonies?
During the American Uprising, slavery was considered as the countrywide institution. Despite the fact that a minority of the slaves lived and labored in all colonies slaves were the backbone of the Southern economy. However, prior to the ratification of the constitution, most of the northern states were passing laws that ensured gradual emancipation. Some of the states went to the extent of abolishing slavery outright. The Northwest Ordinance of 1787 impeded slavery from the upcoming territories, therefore, it meant that slavery perfectly existed in the Southern states, which had become the peculiar institution.
Consequently, the distribution of slaves throughout the nation changed in the entire period. However, by 1820 the slaves were concentrated in the regions, which grew the cash crops. However, by 1860 the concentration of slaves had expanded deeper into the southern state of Georgia, Alabama, and Texas due to an increase in the production of cotton and tobacco. If servitude could have ceased during the revolution, it would make it difficult for the South to meet the global demand for their products, which included cotton and tobacco.
The domestic trade in slaves was significant for the affluence of the Southern economy, and it constituted one of the crucial resources to raise capital and strengthen the economy of the north section of the Southern colony. Majority of the slaves worked in the fields gathering and planting cotton, reaping tobacco, rice, and canes. The dispersal of the occupation of the slaves showed the nature of the Southern economy. The Southern states were rural and depended on agriculture as compared to the North, which was more industrialized and urbanized. Slavery was profitable to the southern colony.
The expense that the owner incurred was far much less than the value the slaves produced. Lucrativeness increased mainly in the first half of 19th century since the price of the cash crop increased while the cost of a slave was the same. Therefore having the slaves was a sound investment. With the expansion of the cotton, production led to an increase in the demand for slaves. As a result, their price increased accordingly. The upper side of the South ventured mainly on the selling slaves as an extra source of income.
Conclusion
In conclusion, slavery has shaped the history of America. The southern colonies depended more on slaves as compared to the Northern one. The southerners depended on the domestic slave trade for the economy. The economy hugely depended on slavery for cotton and tobacco growing areas as well as the trading in slaves. The local slave trade increased mainly because of the obliteration of the foreign slave trade and the growth in production of cotton due to its demand.
Reference
An Act of March 2, 1807, 9th Congress, 2nd Session, 2 STAT 426, to Prohibit the Importation of Slaves; 3/2/1807; Folder 9, Leaf 87, Public Law, 9th Cong., 2nd Sess.: An Act to Prohibit the Importation of Slaves into Any Port or Place Within the Jurisdiction of the U.S. From and After Jan. 1, 1808, March 2, 1807; Enrolled Acts and Resolutions of Congress, 1789 - 2011; General Records of the United States Government, Record Group 11; National Archives Building, Washington, DC. [Online Version, https://www.docsteach.org/documents/document/act-prohibit-importation-slaves, September 17, 2017
Bill of Sale for Slave Named George; 1833; Records of District Courts of the United States, Record Group 21. [Online Version, https://www.docsteach.org/documents/document/bill-of-sale-for-slave-named-george, September 17, 2017]
Petition of Absalom Jones and Others — People of Color and Freemen of Philadelphia — Against the Slave Trade to the Coast of Guinea; 12/30/1799; (HR 6A-F4.2); Records of the U.S. House of Representatives, Record Group 233; National Archives Building, Washington, DC. [Online Version, https://www.docsteach.org/documents/document/petition-against-the-slave-trade, September 17, 2017]
Resolution introduced by Senator Henry Clay in relation to the adjustment of all existing questions of controversy between the states arising out of the institution of slavery (the resolution later be; 1/29/1850; Senate Simple Resolutions, Motions, and Orders of the 31st Congress; Bills and Resolutions Originating in the Senate, 1789 - 2002; Records of the U.S. Senate, Record Group 46; National Archives Building, Washington, DC. [Online Version, https://www.docsteach.org/documents/document/compromise-1850, September 17, 2017]
Slave Manifest of the S.S. Texas from La Salle to New Orleans; 3/5/1860; Records of the U.S. Customs Service, Record Group 36. [Online Version, https://www.docsteach.org/documents/document/slave-manifest-of-the-ss-texas-from-la-salle-to-new-orleans, September 17, 2017]Eference action of cotton due to its demand. of a ton and tobacco growing areas as well as the trading in slaves. ce to raise money
