Slavery is one of the grossest forms of violation of fundamental human rights. Nevertheless, the stage with slavery takes place in the history of humankind, and the United States is no exception. Enslaved people were treated with things, that is, they could be bought, sold, donated, or forced to do any, even the most inhuman work. Although slavery violated absolutely all human rights, it still brought the United States significant revenues and made the American economy one of the most prosperous in the world.
The primary source of income from slave labor was agriculture, and in particular, plantations where cotton, rice, sugar cane, and tobacco were grown. For the plantations to function well, the planters needed cheap labor, which they could only get from enslaved people (Hammond et al. 2020). At the same time, people were kept in inhumane conditions that further lowered costs and contributed to an increase in the income of planters. Because many enslaved people from Africa created families, the birth rate began to rise, and as a result, whole auctions of enslaved people were made, at which people were examined, sold, and bought like cattle.
Tobacco was recognized as one of the main cultivated crops, leading to this product’s significant export. From 1622 to the end of 1639, tobacco leaf exports changed from 60,000 to 1.5 million (Hammond et al. 2020). Nevertheless, tobacco was not a reliable source of income, as its quantity was influenced by many factors, such as price instability, frequently changing weather conditions, and soil quality. Gradually, slave labor shifted from tobacco cultivation to cotton cultivation. Working with cotton was laborious and complex, as enslaved people worked under the scorching sun, processing cotton with their hands and sometimes were deprived of drink, food, and rest. Enslaved people processed an incredible amount of cotton, and eventually, it became one of the primary commodities for export and brought significant revenues to the US economy.
Slavery played a significant role not only in the economic prosperity of America as a whole but also in the fact that small planters could earn good incomes. Those who did not hire workers did not have such payments and hoped that someday they would be able to hire enslaved people for their plantations. The presence of enslaved people also replenished the state treasury at the expense of tax fees that were paid for each enslaved person by the enslaver (Forest 2020). In addition, enslaved people were used as collateral in all types of transactions. Banks provided loans for the expansion of farms and plantations, as well as for the purchase of newly enslaved people for work. That is, the presence of enslaved people played a significant role in the formation of the entire financial well-being of the country.
In conclusion, the consequences of the enslaved people’s journey to the United States were the economic success of the country and the development of its financial well-being. The acquisition of enslaved people brought significant benefits to the state, but still, it was a violation of human rights and was sincere over time. People were forced to work for a long time, not to have free access to water and food, only to benefit the planter who bought them. Inhumane treatment of living people and the most challenging work were the keys to the success of the wealthy and small farmers, but a terrible life for the enslaved people.
References
Forest, Jeff. Williams’ Gang: A Notorious Slave Trader and his Cargo of Black Convicts. Cambridge University Press.
Hammond, Janice, Massey, Kamau, and Garza, Mayra. 2020. African American Inequality in the United States. Harvard Business School.