Slavery in North and South Carolina
Slavery was encouraged from the outset of the Carolina colony. The four proprietors of the colony were members of the Royal African Company, a slave trading company. In 1663, the proprietors encouraged settlers to acquire slaves with the promise that they would be given 20 acres of land for every black male slave and 10 acres for every black female slave brought to the colony within the first year. This encouragement worked; by 1683, the black population was equal to the white population.
South Carolina, which became a separate colony in 1712, relied heavily on slave labor. By 1715, blacks outnumbered whites by 10,500 to 6,250. Less then ten years later, in 1724, there were three times as many blacks as whites.
Because of the sizeable slave population, South Carolina became fearful of slave insurrections. In order to help keep slaves from revolting, slave codes prohibited the sale of alcohol to slaves. In addition, it was believed that slave rebellions could be prevented by prohibiting cruelty against slaves. Owners were prohibited from working slaves more than 15 hours between March 25 and September 25 and not more than 14 hours between September 25 and March 25.
North Carolina, on the other hand, had a large Quaker population that was opposed to slavery. Even though the slave population was small, Quakers established regular religious meetings for slaves and urged slaveholders to treat them well. In 1770, Quakers unsuccessfully sought the prohibition of slavery in the colony. Slavery continued and by 1775, 66,000 slaves occupied the territory.
Slavery in New York
New York, originally called New Netherland by the Dutch who settled it, did have plantations that used slave labor. By 1638, it was not uncommon to have slaves. Slavery under the Dutch was different from in the South. Treatment of slaves was more humane and manumission was commonly granted to slaves who served loyally for a long time.In 1664, New Netherland was taken over by the English. After slavery was recognized as legitimate in 1684, the slave population grew. In 1698, there were 2,170 blacks out of the total population of 18,067. By 1723, the slave population had grown to 6,171; in 1771, there were 19,883 blacks out of a total population of 168,007.
Like its southern counterparts, New York had slave codes. Their concern focused on ensuring that slaves did not escape or become free because of conversion to Christianity. In 1706, one slave code dictated that a slave who was baptized did not become free as a result. In 1715, to deter slaves from escaping to Canada, slaves that were caught 40 miles north of Albany would be executed based upon the oath of two credible witnesses.
Despite attempts to control slaves with slave codes, insurrections did happen. In 1712, 23 slaves in possession of guns and knives set fire to the home of a slaveowner. The slaves then killed nine and injured six whites. The slaves responsible were captured and put on trial. Twenty-one of the slaves were found guilty and executed.
Slavery in New Jersey
New Jersey also encouraged their citizens to own slaves, especially once the English came to dominate the colony. Unlike southern states, their slave population was never large and grew slowly. In 1726, the black population was 2,581. By 1738, it had only grown to 3,981; in 1745, there only were 4,606 blacks out of the total population of 61,000.
Slavery in Pennsylvania
The slave population in Pennsylvania grew very slowly, largely because of Quaker opposition. In 1721, the black population was 2,000; thirty years later it had only grown to 3,000. In 1790, there were 10,274 blacks, and of these, only 3,737 were slaves.The Pennsylvania colony was somewhat distinctive because of its belief in the humanity of blacks. Schools, churches, and marriage were open to the black population. The black family achieved some level of stability, and the community was generally free from violence.
