From Jessica McElrath,
Your Guide to African-American History.
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Depending on which colony slaves lived in, the way they were treated and the work they performed varied. Slaves in southern colonies typically worked under harsh conditions, while slaves in the middle and New England colonies were fewer, had more freedom, and were treated more humanely.

Slavery in Virginia

While slavery in Virginia eventually became quite large, in its early beginnings the colony did not depend upon slave labor. In 1619, there were 20 Africans in Jamestown, who held positions similar to indentured servants. By 1651, census records indicated that Africans who finished their indentured servitude were assigned land and were considered free.

While this system ensured the growth of the free black population, it also contributed to the need for laborers. Work in the field was labor intensive and could be expensive, especially when indentured servants were eventually freed upon the end of their servitude. To offset a portion of the expense, some Africans were made into servants for life and Indians were also used as laborers.

However, the colonists soon learned that this did not work; they began to look toward slavery. After Virginians heard about the success of slavery in the Caribbean, they became convinced that slavery was the answer to their labor problems. From thereafter, there was movement toward implementing a system of black slave labor.

In 1661, Virginia officially recognized slavery by statute. A year later, a Virginia statute declared that newly born children would have the same status as their mother. With the lawful support of slavery, slaves were brought into the colony by ship. By the end of the 17th century, more than a thousand slaves per year were transported into the colony. In 1708, there were 12,000 blacks and 18,000 whites. By 1756, the black population was 120,156 while the white population was still the majority, numbering 173,316.

Because of the harsh labor conditions, male slaves were brought more often than female slaves. However, by the 18th century, this view changed. Women were brought just as often and were required to perform the same labor as men.

As the slave population increased, so did the fear of slave insurrections. In order to prevent revolts, Virginia enacted slave codes. Slave codes restricted the movement of slaves and dictated the punishment for offenses. For example, slaves were not allowed to leave the plantation without written permission from their master; robbery and other major offenses was punishable by 60 lashes and placement in a pillory where the slave’s ears were cut off; and for the commission of petty offenses, the individual was whipped, branded, or maimed.

Slavery in Maryland

Unlike in Virginia, Maryland had slaves shortly after the establishment of its first settlements in 1634. Although slavery existed, it was not recognized by law until 1663. The first statute enacted attempted to enforce a law that all blacks, even those who were free, would be slaves and all newborn black children would be slaves regardless of the status of their mother. In 1681, a new law changed this; it established freedom for children born to free black women, and mixed black and white heritage children, also known as mulattoes, born to white women.

In order to ensure that blacks would remain enslaved, a law declared that slaves who converted to Christianity would not become free. With the enactment of this new law, slave owners felt secure that they would not be stripped of their investments. In 1750, 40,000 blacks and 100,000 whites populated the territory.

Slave importation in Maryland continued to increase. This, however, created fear about slave insurrections. Like in Virginia, Maryland enacted laws that restricted the movement of free blacks and slaves. One law declared that slaves would be punished by death, branding, or whipping if found guilty of murder, arson, larceny, association with whites, insolence, and traveling without permission.