Slavery In Colonial America Essay

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Pages: 3

Slavery in Colonial America
Slavery is an important part of American heritage, it should be remembered to respect the ones who suffered and died. Many Africans were unwillfully taken away from their homes and denied almost all of their rights that we Americans take for granted. Through learning about the different aspects of slavery, one can have renewed and deepened respect for those who were wrongfully discriminated. To begin with, between Africa, Britain, and the American Colonies, goods, foods and slaves were transported to and fro via the “Triangular” Trade route. First, English ships left Britain carrying goods such as cloth, guns, ironware and drink to be transported to West Africa. (Triangular Trade) Then, slave ships in West Africa
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Approximately 12.5 million Africans were taken from Africa as slaves. (Facts about Slaves Trade and Slavery)
Many artisans, traders, philosophers and skilled laborers were stolen and therefore caused an economic and cultural depletion in the areas affected with slave trade. It also led to a slower rate of the development of cities and towns in the area. Hospitals, schools and government buildings were made at a very slow pace. The slave trade also tore families apart, in some cases; a strong father may be taken, therefore leaving the mother and the children to survive in an already economically unstable environment. Slavery played an important role in the economy of the U.S., it provided the power necessary to develop the colonies. (Early Colonial Labor Force) Plantation owners wanted slaves, they were an inexpensive source or labor and you could have them for life after you paid for them. If plantation owners had many slaves, they could produce a large yield of crops with minimal work themselves. Some plantation owners depended on the African-born slaves for the knowledge and skills to grow crops and build canals for irrigation. (Slavery in Colonial America) The harvested crops were traded to other others countries in exchange for goods, this brought more wealth into the colonies which in turn helped build up the young