TWO PART HIST

The development of slavery in Virginia

The slave culture became part of the Virginian colonial economy after the legalization of servitude law that was part of the English common law. Both Billings (1991) and Morgan (1972) believed that modern racism originated from traditional Neither of them address the origins of modern racism. Both are discussing the origins of the system of slavery in Virginia, however.

(Englishmen superior attitudes towards the both servants and slaves, that forced them to find solutions to the frequent labor upheavals that caused a loss of property which disrupted the Virginia plantation economy. Slavery provided the best solution to the frequent political changes within the Virginian British influenced dynasty, the frequent wars within Frequent wars? Neither of them mention this. Also which “state” are you referring to?

the state and the lengthy process of procuring British bond servants.

The Morgan and Billings explanation

According to Morgan (1972) the high population growth in England from 3 million to 4.5 million in 1650 led to a slavery and servitude culture within Britain. According to Fletcher, there were more than 20,000 idle men in Scotland who were roaming around the country aimlessly, stealing, drinking and cursing at hard working people in the society (Morgan, 1972, 11). These idle populations were rounded up and put to work in factories Some were later on

as bond slaves to property owners. The children to these landless poor were also introduced to compulsory labor system based on the working school system. This school system taught young children workmanship skills such as spinning and knitting from the ages of three onwards (Morgan, 1972, 10). These children were paid by being provided with basic human services such as food and water. This new cure to poverty brought with it the future of capitalism in the system known as the economy ? awkward

Billings (1991) on the other hand diverts from Morgan’s (1972) argument by claiming that the enslavement of black people in Virginia came as a result of the British servitude laws against its male servants And female…. . According to Billings (1991) the legalization of the British servitude laws in Virginia helped define a new slave culture. The servitude culture evolved from the seventeenth century British culture that forced the poor to serve in the homes of the rich and affluent members of the society. But doesn’t Billings show the differences between the indentured servant laws and apprenticeships?

The most common type of British servitude was the apprenticeship. In 1907 a young craftsman served under the leadership of his skilled master. The apprenticeship of servitude was used in the middle ages to curb competition among craftsmen.

The difference in explanation

Morgan (1972) explains that the unemployed British youth contributed to the Virginia slave culture because a large number of them were sent to these new world colonies where they found limitless opportunities for work, own land and prosper. States such as Virginia Virginia was a colony at the time.

became a haven for the British landless poor who found relief from the workhouses, prisons and gallows that awaited them at home. A huge number of the British poor were recruited into the Virginian free labor force in exchange for But the poor came in as servants…. They could become free after a time of servitude.

land as a way of gaining access into more British colonies. The British poor viewed owning land as a sure way to gaining wealth and power within the Virginian state. Their civil freedoms and liberties were protected within these colonies to allow them participate in developing the British economy. The impoverished British men contracted and served the existing American planters for one year while carving out their own plantations aspirations along the Virginian River. Consequently they were able to live comfortable lives cultivated from their own crops of corn fields rearing a few cattle and planting tobacco to earn at least 12 pounds per person (Morgan, 1972, 17). West Indian tobacco plantations also improved the economic conditions of the British servants because the products were shipped directly to Britain. I do not understand this sentence.

But the poor came in as servants…. They could become free after a time of servitude.

Billings (1991) on the other hand focuses on the statute of artificers as the root cause of the Virginia slavery culture. The statute of artificers was implemented in 1563 allowed all apprentices and house servants to be bound to their agreement, bonded by a legal contract called the indenture. This Stuart Englishman deed also known as a ‘covenant merely personal’ was a written consent between two parties allowing one party to be trained for a specific time period in exchange for maintenance during training (Billings, 1991, 46). A written release was given at the end of the service as a legal proof for the completion of the indenture. This form of servitude led to a loss of certain personal freedoms such as the ability to marry and the risk of being sold off or passed down through wills to other family members. The apprentice was also prone to corporal punishment from his master as restitution for harm or an attempt to escape. However, these bond servants could gain their freedom by seeking restitution from the courts by proving evidence of a lack of training, maintenance or support. These customs became As he also says, the law classified servants as chattel property – a basis for the legal status of slaves later on.

part of the labor culture in the Virginia plantation economy.

The best plausible explanation for the slave upheavals

The disenfranchisement of the overpopulated British servants and promise of serving under the apprentice servitude turned into a death trap for these poor bond servants in Virginia, most likely due to the ruthless labor system that favored the plantation owners while oppressing the poor British settlers. According to Billings (1991) British laborers worked for long hours with no breaks, subjected to mental, physical and sexual exploitation. There were no shelters to house these workers and tropical diseases led to many of their deaths. Ultimately, British born servants took the first opportunity to become free from this harsh environment by any means necessary, attempting to escape, steal or attack their owners.

However Morgan (1972) gives a better explanation to these upheavals using his agrarian plantation model. According to Morgan the indenture servitude led to the legalization of slave trade. He continues to give examples of a new tide of disenfranchised and armed British youth which led to numerous uprising such as the bacon rebellion and the tobacco cutting riots in

There were not numerous rebellions. Bacon’s Rebellion was a major one. Morgan thinks it so significant that it led to a change in policy regarding labor.

1682 (Morgan, 1972, 23). This forced Virginia to restrict the liberties of the landless and free British servants. The terms of service was extended from 21 years to 24 years for all youths who came into the state with no legal agreements. These new laws were enacted to limit the freedoms of these servants.

WHY - analysis of this explanation

A continued analysis to the Morgan (1972) argument reveals that the English law was amended in Virginia to manage troublesome British servants. The cropping of the hair was one form of corporal punishment given to problematic servants. Killing a hog, attempting to run away or asking for a three week holiday led to one year of extra service as compensation. This made it more difficult for servants to gain freedom from their masters. In 1670 the young armed British servants were restricted from voting or owning property such as land or houses (Morgan, 1972, 24). new legislative laws This sentence does not really make sense.

that could only be implemented by the affluent land owners.

Billings (1991) on the other hand gives an example of a situation in March 1642 where the general assembly amended the law for the un-indentured servants extending their time of service from one year to 5 years. The children and adolescents were to be held in service until they were 21 years of age (Billings, 1991, 49). This new indenture system turned these bond servants into chattels or property. They became properties to the planters who used them as security during debt negotiations, marriage and inheritance. They lost their legal rights to gain their freedoms through the court system and could be traded like commodities such as clothes or livestock (Billings, 1991, 51). The African slaves proved to be more economical than acquiring British servants under paid contracts. This sentence does not really make sense. So when did this happen according to Billings…..?

Billings (1991) therefore gives a more elaborate explanation to the root cause of the Virginia slave culture. He explains that the slave culture was used to counter the fear of another slave insurrection and armed servants. This sentence does not make sense African born slaves were therefore subject to severe forms of punishment compared to their British counterparts. The black slaves who walked around without their passes were whipped or punished severely. Black slaves were allowed to be sentenced to death under the testimony of a single witness instead of the traditional minimum of two witnesses. Such was the fate of Tom Cary, a slave who stole and set fire to his master’s property, his trial lasted just a few hours resulting in his execution (Billings, 1991, 60). These new laws allegedly were specifically aimed at protecting the safety and property of the planters against obsessively paranoid and a well-organized feared Negro insurgence as slaves represented one fifth of the population. Very awkward.

OK, Here is the deal. The problem with the essay is a lack of focus. The essay needs a proper introduction and an accurate comparative analysis of the two articles. Much of the information you relate in the paper is correct. But some of it is not well stated or leaves out some important details that the authors include.

The writing needs to be focused, accurate, and concise. It needs to be organized in a traditional essay form with a proper introduction and conclusion.

Grade: POOR

References

Billings, W. M. (1991). The Law of Servants and Slaves in Seventeenth-Century Virginia. The Virginia Magazine of History and Biography, 99(1), 45-62.

Morgan, E. S. (1972). Slavery and freedom: The American paradox. The Journal of American History, 59(1), 5-29.