Creating american slavery-colonial laws

Assignment Help History
Reference no: EM131873524

Creating American Slavery: Colonial Laws

Background:

Initially American slavery was undefined, without clear laws, rules or regulations distinguishing enslaved Africans from English indentured servants. In the span of a hundred years, however, everything changed. By the early 18th century, colonial laws such as those excerpted below reflected a significant change in perception of African laborers.

Our goal with this project is to use primary sources in an effort to trace the development of race-based, lifetime, hereditary unfreedom, i.e. slavery in America.

Questions: 

  1. Based on the law below, how was the status (enslaved or free) of a child determined? What impact could this have on the enslaved population and the development of the institution of slavery?

Virginia, 1662 

WHEREAS some doubts have arisen whether children got by any Englishman upon a negro woman should be slave or free, Be it therefore enacted and declared by this present grand assembly, that all children borne in this country shall be held bond or free only according to the condition of the mother...

  1. What did the law below state? What impact could it have had on marriage patterns?

Maryland, 1664 

That whatsoever free-born English woman shall intermarry with any slave. . . shall serve the master of such slave during the life of her husband; and that all the issue of such free-born women, so married shall be slaves as their fathers were. 

  1. What did the law below state? What impact could it have had on religion and enslaved people?
  2. Virginia, 1667 
  3. Act III. Whereas some doubts have arisen whether children that are slaves by birth. . . should by virtue of their baptism be made free, it is enacted that baptism does not alter the condition to the person as to his bondage or freedom; masters freed from this doubt may more carefully propagate Christianity by permitting slaves to be admitted to that sacrament. 
  1. What did the law below state? What was the purpose or motivation in passing the law below?

Virginia, 1663

FOR better suppressing the unlawful meetings of servants, it is thought fit and enacted by this present grand assembly and the authority thereof that all masters of families...take especial care that their negro servants doe not depart from their houses on Sundays or any other days without particular license from them, and that the several respective counties...are empowered as may cause a further restraint of all unlawful meetings of servants and punish the offenders.

  1. Slavery evolved in the American colonies as a social, economic, and legal institution. As historian Frances Latimer explains, "We think about slavery as this complete package that just came to evil landowners. It didn't happen that way. It happened one law at a time, one person at a time." How did the above laws serve to institutionalize slavery? How might have the development of slavery in America have been different without them?

Reference no: EM131873524

Questions Cloud

Euorpean powers and colonial territories : How, and to what extent, did industrial revolution change the relationship between Euorpean powers and colonial territories?
How your strategy can be achieved through capsim decisions : Your approach to each of the marketing mix variables (product (R&D), price, place, and promotion).How your strategy can be achieved through CapSim decisions.
Bank reconciliation : BANK RECONCILIATION. ABC company has bank balance on June 30, 2017 is $67,510, and the book balance at this month-end is $42,072.
Implementing research using qualitative methodology : Consider how you might overcome the challenges that you may encounter when implementing research using qualitative methodology, including the management
Creating american slavery-colonial laws : Initially American slavery was undefined, without clear laws, rules or regulations distinguishing enslaved Africans from English indentured servants
Analyze professional ethics and loyalty of managers : Analyze professional ethics, responsibilities, and loyalty of managers; and professional ethics and responsibilities of intermediaries
Ancient mesopotamian and egyptian civilizations : Compare and contrast the religious beliefs of ancient Mesopotamian and Egyptian civilizations. What explains the differences?
Explain the advantages of conducting international trade : What do you believe are the advantages of conducting international trade using electronic document transmissions, such as EDI, Bolero or Trade Card?
Native americans in wwi and wwii as code talkers : Discuss the use of Native Americans in WWI and WWII as code talkers. Explain how the use of American Indian (Choctaw Osage, Comanche and Navajo)

Reviews

Write a Review

History Questions & Answers

  History of imperialism and colonialism

Discuss the specific connections between economic development and imperialism in the latter half of the 20th century.

  Explain immigration to america

Explain immigration to America during the half of 19 th century

  American society in the making

American Society in the Making

  Conditions of late 19th century worker

Some historians considered the industrialists of the late 19th Century to be captains of industry while others considered them robber barons. Which view do you believe to be correct and why.

  Explaining the transition of humankind

Explain the significance of the transition of humankind from a hunter-gatherer society to a food-producing society. Include the following: A description of the Paleolithic era

  Tombs and monuments

Tombs and Monuments: Compare an aspect of the tomb of Emperor Shihuangdi with the burial tombs of other cultures, such as Egypt or Mesopotamia. Explain whether you think the emperor's elaborate tomb was motivated by power or religious beliefs.

  Accomplishments of egyptian female

Can anyone educate me regarding one distinct Mesopatamian and one Egyptian female and their accomplishments?

  Describing the characteristics of mesopotamia

What are the characteristics of the first civilizations of 5000 years ago? Especially in Mesopotamia.

  Explaining the vulnerability of mesopotamia

Determine why Mesopotamia was so vulnerable.

  Difference between egypt and mesopotamia

Some have said that the strength and endurance of the Empire and the regular, dependable recurrence of the Nile flood gave the artists-craftsmen a sense of consistency that profoundly influenced the nature of their artistic creations.

  Characteristics of first civilizations

What are the characteristics of the first civilizations of 5000 years ago( especially in the Mesopotamia)? what makes these groups "civilized" as opposed to prehistoric peoples?

  Growth and change in society

Cultures of Mesopotamia, especially Summer, and Egypt. How cultures change over time.

Free Assignment Quote

Assured A++ Grade

Get guaranteed satisfaction & time on delivery in every assignment order you paid with us! We ensure premium quality solution document along with free turntin report!

All rights reserved! Copyrights ©2019-2020 ExpertsMind IT Educational Pvt Ltd