Racism

Racism

RacismThe belief that one racial category is innately superior or inferior to another

• Racism has been widespread throughout US history where ideas about racial inferiority supported slavery.

• Overt racism in the US has decreased, but remains a serious social problem.

Did racism cause slavery or did slavery cause racism?

SLAVERY

Ancient Times and the 1500’s

The Slave Trade in Ancient Times included:Egyptians, Greeks, Romans, Persians, Indians, Aztecs.

The word “slave” comes from the word “slav” referring to Russians taken during Roman times.

In the 1500’s, Europeans didn’t play the only role! They relied on AFRICAN traders.

What are the various theories as to why African slave labor was so widely used in the Americas? Several/ schools of thought. A once popular theory held

that Africans were more resistant to disease, as well as better suited to heavy work in tropical climates.

Another held that use of Africans was motivated primarily by prejudice.

Eric Williams has refuted that particular theory with his famous quote that “Slavery was not born of racism: rather, racism was the consequence of slavery.”

Another assertion was that slaves were cheap. They were not, but since white Europeans’ indentures were relatively brief, the high cost of slaves could be minimized over a longer period of time.

Rising sugar prices also meant that sugar growers could afford more expensive African slaves.

The Slave Trade

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What will you give me for…

People were traded for: Textiles Metalwork Rum Tobacco Weapons Gunpowder

Triangular Trade GrowsThe Atlantic slave trade formed one part of a three-legged trade network know as the triangular trade.

Most ships, especially those of the later 18th century, were "tight packers", carrying a huge quantity of slaves who were often forced to lie in spaces smaller than that of a grave,

“Coffin” Position Below Deck

Destinations of Enslaved Africans,

1500–1870

Greatest sugar producer in 1600 – BrazilGreatest sugar producer in 18th century – Saint Domingue (Haiti)

What was the life of a slave working on a plantation in the eighteenth century? Slaves were organized into “gangs” for field

work “drivers” typically a male slave kept tight control over

the slaves Rewarded for good work and punished harshly for

failing to meet daily quotas and/or showing any form of resistance Worked hard to avoid punishment

Most slaves died of diseases Death Rate

Most slaves died of diseases Life expectancy of a Brazilian male was 23 years

Low reproductive rates and high numbers of new slave imports were an integral part of slaves’ family and social lives.

Impact of the Atlantic Slave Trade By the 1800s, an

estimated 11 million enslaved Africans had reached the Americas. Another 2 million probably died during the Middle Passage In West Africa, the loss of countless numbers of young women and men resulted in some small states disappearing forever.

Slave Collar So a runaway could be heard!

A Different Kind of Slavery…BUT

"Anyone can say that slavery has existed forever," says Frans Fontaine, "even the Greeks and Romans had slaves.” But this kind of slavery was different - it was fixed to race. You became a slave because you were black.

A Different Kind of Slavery…BUT

But slavery didn't fit in with Christian ideals so there was a very good solution for this problem; black people, Europeans and Americans determined, they were not really humans.

And that is the most cruel part of this form of slavery. Blacks were not people, they said,…could therefore be enslaved.

After American Revolution Continued the thoughts/practices of the

Christian religion Only counted for 3/5 a person in the Constitution

WHY? So the south could have more representatives.