04-19-2006, 05:14 AM
Hrm.
The history of slavery in America actually begins back in 1525-26 or there abouts. The first slaves in America were not black, but white. My memory is a tad bit hazy, but I believe the first black slaves happened around 1560ish mark. It was the first real permanant settlement in America, the rest had been failures or had died to attacks or diseases. Saint Augustine in Florida I think was the first.
By 1630 or 40ish, slavery was a means of criminal punishment. John Punch, a paid black servant, was ordered to serve his master until the time of his (John Punch's) death. His crime was running away to escape brutal working conditions. Two whites also ran away, and they got 30 lashes each.
1662 a milestone law was passed. Children would be determined who was slave or freeborn by the status of the mother. If the mother was a slave, the children were chattel. This meant that the master of the house could do with as he pleased with them, including tying them in a sack and throwing them in to the river if it so pleased him. They were not considered human beings in the courts, but property. Because of this law, women slaves were frequently raped. Over and over again by the master of the house and his hired hands, as resulting pregnancies provided more free labour. By 1700ish, I think 1705 slavery laws became so well defined and organised and the real horrors had begun. It was not just blacks, but white, Eastern Indians, Native Americans, Chinese, pretty much anybody of any race was subject to the Brits dropping them off in the American colonies as cheap labour. There was no hope for these people. Crimes as simple as the accusation of sloth were enough to warrant a sentance of a lifetime of servatude. Petty criminals were rounded up, branded, and sold in slave markets. The slave codes were in full effect by now. Plantations depended on slave labour.
Rhode Island outlawed slavery, but I forget when. It was just a few years before the American Revolution, and the courts of Rhode Island found slavery to be "A most unchristian act, an abomination in the eyes of God" and with that, was outlawed.
And with that, my brain goes fuzzy and blank. This stuff comes and goes for me. Gimme a few days and I might remember a different time period. Maybe.
I do know that congress eventually banned the importation of new slaves, but allowed overland slave trading. Since it was a master's right to rape female slaves, or have them bred much in the same way one does a cow, thriving businesses were made of specialty bred slaves for the overland trade. Lighter skin slaves "specially bred for manners and servitude" were sold for indoor use, and through selective breeding larger stronger physically capable slaves were bred for the out of doors. Slaves gained something like a pedigree. A registry of bloodlines were created for certain slaves, like those that seemed to have a knack for certain things like blacksmithing or equestrian care.
The Confederacy kept a staggering number of white slaves in its ranks.
The history of slavery in America actually begins back in 1525-26 or there abouts. The first slaves in America were not black, but white. My memory is a tad bit hazy, but I believe the first black slaves happened around 1560ish mark. It was the first real permanant settlement in America, the rest had been failures or had died to attacks or diseases. Saint Augustine in Florida I think was the first.
By 1630 or 40ish, slavery was a means of criminal punishment. John Punch, a paid black servant, was ordered to serve his master until the time of his (John Punch's) death. His crime was running away to escape brutal working conditions. Two whites also ran away, and they got 30 lashes each.
1662 a milestone law was passed. Children would be determined who was slave or freeborn by the status of the mother. If the mother was a slave, the children were chattel. This meant that the master of the house could do with as he pleased with them, including tying them in a sack and throwing them in to the river if it so pleased him. They were not considered human beings in the courts, but property. Because of this law, women slaves were frequently raped. Over and over again by the master of the house and his hired hands, as resulting pregnancies provided more free labour. By 1700ish, I think 1705 slavery laws became so well defined and organised and the real horrors had begun. It was not just blacks, but white, Eastern Indians, Native Americans, Chinese, pretty much anybody of any race was subject to the Brits dropping them off in the American colonies as cheap labour. There was no hope for these people. Crimes as simple as the accusation of sloth were enough to warrant a sentance of a lifetime of servatude. Petty criminals were rounded up, branded, and sold in slave markets. The slave codes were in full effect by now. Plantations depended on slave labour.
Rhode Island outlawed slavery, but I forget when. It was just a few years before the American Revolution, and the courts of Rhode Island found slavery to be "A most unchristian act, an abomination in the eyes of God" and with that, was outlawed.
And with that, my brain goes fuzzy and blank. This stuff comes and goes for me. Gimme a few days and I might remember a different time period. Maybe.
I do know that congress eventually banned the importation of new slaves, but allowed overland slave trading. Since it was a master's right to rape female slaves, or have them bred much in the same way one does a cow, thriving businesses were made of specialty bred slaves for the overland trade. Lighter skin slaves "specially bred for manners and servitude" were sold for indoor use, and through selective breeding larger stronger physically capable slaves were bred for the out of doors. Slaves gained something like a pedigree. A registry of bloodlines were created for certain slaves, like those that seemed to have a knack for certain things like blacksmithing or equestrian care.
The Confederacy kept a staggering number of white slaves in its ranks.
All alone, or in twos,
The ones who really love you
Walk up and down outside the wall.
Some hand in hand
And some gathered together in bands.
The bleeding hearts and artists
Make their stand.
And when they've given you their all
Some stagger and fall, after all it's not easy
Banging your heart against some mad buggers wall.
"Isn't this where...."
The ones who really love you
Walk up and down outside the wall.
Some hand in hand
And some gathered together in bands.
The bleeding hearts and artists
Make their stand.
And when they've given you their all
Some stagger and fall, after all it's not easy
Banging your heart against some mad buggers wall.
"Isn't this where...."