Question

The line between slavery and freedom was more permeable in the seventeenth century than it would become later. explain how slavery was treated in the seventeenth century by discussing the law, customs, and liberties extended to slaves. what contributed to the hardening of the line between slavery and freedom?

Answer 1

Slavery during the 17th century worked more like indentured servitude. The first blacks to come to the Americas were indentured servants. They worked off the debt of their passage and were given land following their servitude. The whole system of indentured servitude fell away after land resources became limited. Blacks were allowed to purchase their freedom, buy land, even some having their own slaves. As the colonies entered into the 18th century, the black population was increasing as slave labor became more important to the plantations. Increasing numbers coupled with slave revolts led to the creation of slave laws in many of the colonies. These laws made slavery lifelong and a status associated with birth to a slave mother. Though slavery was becoming less common in the British Empire, when the US became independent, slavery became a part of the new country's economy and social structure.