African Americans in Early America

I began to imagine myself living during the times of slave trade in  the New World exploration. As European settlers came over to America and basically transformed life by taking over the natives' land, there was also a new world beginning in the sense of power that African Americans would have here in America. "This began a whole new system where the color of your skin determined whether or not you will live your life as a slave." - Dr. Holden In 1619, a Dutch ship brings the first permanent African settlers to Jamestown. Africans soon are put to work on tobacco plantations. In 1663, a Virginia court decides that a child born to a slave mother is also a slave. After putting myself in a slave mothers shoes of birthing a child and knowing that he/she will grow up having no rights, never having the opportunity at education, and living a life of doing labor for nothing. The slave trade devastated African life after being forced into slavery in what is called the Middle Passage. The Middle Passage was the transport of slaves across the Atlantic Ocean. For weeks, months, and sometimes years, they waited in slave factories to be taken over. Slaves were traded for tobacco, corn, rice, etc. As they boarded the ships they had no idea what lied ahead. These ships consisted of hundreds of men and women packed with little breathing room or space for human wastes. Between ten and twenty percent of the men and women lost their lives on the way over. In Williamsburg, blacks had to find survival techniques, establish relationships with their “masters”, and learn to live in various, often brutal living conditions.

The majority of African Americans in this area worked on tobacco plantations and large farms. Tobacco was a labor intensive crop that took nearly 11 months which consisted of laying the bed seeds that occurred in January during the winter months where the weather was cold. The soil was ready in March where the tobacco seedlings were transplanted. By summer, this crop required constant care until it was ready to be shipped to England. For the slaves working on farms, there was little rest and difficult labor. They were also subject to brutal punishment because they are considered less valuable than those slaves who did not work on a farm, but rather in an urban area. Often times, slaves tried to run away to escape and survive. Sadly, many times this was unsuccessful.

           
On plantations such as those in the Chesapeake Bay area, slaves had a complete family unit, and their work often took place from the time the sun was up until it came down. They generally had Sundays off. The disadvantage to establishing a routine and working in an area where relationships were developed differently was being sold or transferred to a more domestic setting that was more cruel. Slaves had to depend on their masters for food, shelter, clothing and health care, while the masters depended on them for labor and services in return. These relationships became based around the amount and quality  work the slave imposed. Living during this time created hardship for many African Americans. This has carried through our history and started a power struggle that has evolved and changed over the years.

"History.org: The Colonial Williamsburg Foundation's Official History and Citizenship Website." Colonial Williamsburg History : History.org : The Colonial Williamsburg Foundation's Official History and Citizenship Site. N.p., n.d. Web. 17 Feb. 2013.

 "Jefferson and Slavery at Monticello: Paradox of Liberty « Thomas Jefferson's Monticello." Thomas Jeffersons Monticello Blog RSS. N.p., n.d. Web. 16 Feb. 2013.

Similarities and Differences among the British Colonies

British Colonies in America were broken up into regions. These regions consisted of the Northern, Middle, and Southern. Each region had its similarities and differences. All colonies were the same in the sense that their economies were based off of agriculture. Each had something to do with the slave trade, and all engaged in a sense of independence. Deism became prevalent, meaning that God made the world, but was not actively involved in it. Even though they had things in common they also came with many differences. These differences and culture expectations in each region were the factors that played a role in their economy and those that played a role in society. Each region used agriculture to make a living, and they all used it in a variety of ways. In each region we discover what these differences are based on how their economy and society was shaped.

Northern Colonial Region	New Hampshire, Massachusetts Bay (Plymouth), Rhode Island, and Connecticut
Economy was shaped by:	New England farmers exported grain and livestock, but many could barely feed themselves and their families. Therefore, they turned to alternative occupations such as trading with the West Indies (grain, flour, wheat, corn) and developing fishing industries.
Society was shaped by	Northern Colony families typically came in family groups. "Living alone was not permitted because they valued community" - Dr. Holden and most believed in Calvinism. The biggest impact they made was writing the Mayflower Compact- first written form of government.

Southern Colonial Region (Larger Region)	The Carolinas, Virginia, Maryland, Georgia
Economy was shaped by:	Wealthiest region that was known for growing tobacco, rice, and cotton. Their crops were grown for sale and profit. Classes were divided by belief in white supremacy. They believed that white people were superior and gained more power.
Society was shaped by	The south included indentured servants voluntary and involuntary (typically lower class) who had their way paid to come over from Europe and work in America as an employer for 4-7 years then gained their own freedom. After this they found a new source of labor in African Slaves.

Middle Colonial Region	New Netherlands/New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware
Economy was shaped by:	Middle colonies depended on fur trade, and farming for survival. Their trade city was Philadelphia, where they had a wide range of imports.
Society was shaped by	This region did not have one set of beliefs. They were settled by multiple nationalities (German, Dutch, and Swedish) which in turn gave cultural diversity. The colonies in this Middle Region had great relationships with the Natives who taught them to farm and become well acquainted in their surroundings.