In America, ownership of property included the right to own human beings. The introduction of slavery in America took place around 1619 when the first African landed at Point Comfort in Virginia, which was a new colony of England (Deetz, 2020). The Africans had been forcefully captured from their homes, required to board ships, and were taken to unknown lands. Most historians consider the period as the beginning of a 400-year story, which was marked by persistent inequality, a legacy of resilience, and oppression (Deetz, 2020). This essay will examine the beginning of the slave trade in America and its abolishment.
The first African group in Virginia was not the first to arrive in North America but had a great significance in changing the Atlantic world in the Colonial era. The English colonialist justified slavery as supporting the chattel system and marking an end to rebellion from their colonies. Moreover, the captives provided cheap labor and were controlled, which ensured the profit margin of the landowners increased. Laws that guaranteed private ownership of property, including human beings, were legislated in America during the Revolution Era, which ensured servitude continued (Ushistory.org, 2020). Slavery ventured to the southern colonies at the rise of the rice kingdom. The movement of Barbados, who were wealthy planters, brought slavery to the south as the migration of these farmers was accompanied by their African workers. The arrival of the black man in America had a major impact on its economy
The abolition of the slave trade began in 1787 through the American revolutionary war. Veterans were given lands in Ohio and other states, making people in the region free. The Civil War ended after the Emancipation Proclamation issued by President Abraham Lincoln in 1863 affirmed the liberty of all those held as slaves in all states, including the rebellious ones (A& E Television Networks, 2010). The adoption of the 13thThirteenth Amendment eliminated the existence of slavery during the ruling of Abraham Lincoln as the basic rights of the American citizens were recognized.
To conclude, Africans captured and taken to unknown lands by the Whites ended up as slaves in their plantations where they provided cheap labor and maximized profits for the landowners. The abolition of slavery in American began during the revolutionary era, which led to the Civil war and the proclamation of Emancipation. Finally, the adoption of the Thirteenth Amendment during President Lincoln’s rule eliminated it.
References
A& E Television Networks. (2010).Slavery was abolished in America with the adoption of the 13th Amendment. History. Web.
Deetz, K. F. (2019).400 years ago, enslaved Africa first arrived in Virginia. National Geographic. Web.
Ushistory.org. (2020). Revolutionary changes and limitations: Slavery. U.S. History Online Textbook. Web.