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{{see also|Slavery in the United States|Slavery in the colonial United States}}
{{see also|Slavery in the United States|Slavery in the colonial United States}}
[[File:Slaves cutting the sugar cane - Ten Views in the Island of Antigua (1823), plate IV - BL.jpg|thumb|[[Sugar plantations in the Caribbean|Sugar plantation]] in the British colony of [[Antigua]], 1823]]
[[File:Slaves cutting the sugar cane - Ten Views in the Island of Antigua (1823), plate IV - BL.jpg|thumb|[[Sugar plantations in the Caribbean|Sugar plantation]] in the British colony of [[Antigua]], 1823]]

[[Planter (American South)|Planters]] embraced the use of [[slavery|slaves]] mainly because [[indentured labor]] became expensive. Some indentured servants were also leaving to start their own farms as land was widely available. Colonists tried to use [[Native Americans in the United States|Native Americans]] for labor, but they were susceptible to European diseases and [[Population history of indigenous peoples of the Americas|died in large numbers]]. The plantation owners then turned to enslaved [[Africans]] for labor. In 1665, there were fewer than 500 Africans in Virginia but by 1750, 85 percent of the 235,000 slaves lived in the Southern colonies, Virginia included. Africans made up 40 percent of the South’s population.<ref>The Southern Colonies: Plantations and Slavery</ref>
[[Planter class|Planters]] embraced the use of [[Slavery|slaves]] mainly because [[Indentured servitude|indentured labor]] became expensive. Some indentured servants were also leaving to start their own farms as land was widely available. Colonists tried to use [[Native Americans in the United States|Native Americans]] for labor, but they were susceptible to European diseases and [[Population history of indigenous peoples of the Americas|died in large numbers]]. The plantation owners then turned to enslaved [[Africans]] for labor. In 1665, there were fewer than 500 Africans in Virginia but by 1750, 85 percent of the 235,000 slaves lived in the Southern colonies, Virginia included. Africans made up 40 percent of the South’s population.<ref>The Southern Colonies: Plantations and Slavery</ref>


According to the [[1840 United States Census]], one out of every four families in Virginia owned slaves. There were over 100 plantation owners who owned over 100 slaves.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/jefferson/slaves/|title=PBS The Slaves' Story|access-date=2006-03-24}}</ref> The number of slaves in the 15 States was just shy of 4 million in a total population 12.4 million and the percentage was 32% of the population.
According to the [[1840 United States Census]], one out of every four families in Virginia owned slaves. There were over 100 plantation owners who owned over 100 slaves.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/jefferson/slaves/|title=PBS The Slaves' Story|access-date=2006-03-24}}</ref> The number of slaves in the 15 States was just shy of 4 million in a total population 12.4 million and the percentage was 32% of the population.
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On a plantation with more than 100 slaves, the capital value of the slaves was greater than the capital value of the land and farming implements.
On a plantation with more than 100 slaves, the capital value of the slaves was greater than the capital value of the land and farming implements.
The first plantations occurred in the Caribbean islands, particularly, in the West Indies on the island of Hispaniola, where it was initiated by the Spaniards in the early 16th century. The plantation system was based on slave labor and it was marked by inhumane methods of exploitation. After being established in the Caribbean islands, the plantation system spread during the 16th,17th and 18th century to Mexico, Brazil, Britain’s southern Atlantic colonies in North America and Indonesia. All the plantation system had a form of slavery in its establishment, slaves were initially forced to be labors to the plantation system, these slaves were primarily native Indians, but the system was later extended to include slaves shipped from Africa. Indeed, the progress of the plantation system was accompanied by the rapid growth of the slave trade.
The first plantations occurred in the Caribbean islands, particularly, in the West Indies on the island of Hispaniola, where it was initiated by the Spaniards in the early 16th century. The plantation system was based on slave labor and it was marked by inhumane methods of exploitation. After being established in the Caribbean islands, the plantation system spread during the 16th, 17th and 18th centuries to [[European colonization of the Americas|European colonies in the Americas]] and [[Western imperialism in Asia|Asia]]. All the plantation system had a form of slavery in its establishment, slaves were initially forced to be labors to the plantation system, these slaves were primarily native Indians, but the system was later extended to include slaves shipped from Africa. Indeed, the progress of the plantation system was accompanied by the rapid growth of the slave trade.
The plantation system peaked in the first half of the 18th century, but later on, during the middle of 19th century, there was a significant increase in demand for cotton from European countries, which means there was a need for expanding the plantation in the southern parts of United States. This made the plantation system reach a profound crisis, until it was changed from being forcing slave labour to being mainly low-paid wage labors who contained a smaller proportion of forced labour. The monopolies were insured high profits from the sale of plantation products by having cheap labours, forced recruitment, peonage and debt servitude.
The plantation system peaked in the first half of the 18th century, but later on, during the middle of 19th century, there was a significant increase in demand for cotton from European countries, which means there was a need for expanding the plantation in the southern parts of United States. This made the plantation system reach a profound crisis, until it was changed from being forcing slave labour to being mainly low-paid wage labors who contained a smaller proportion of forced labour. The monopolies were insured high profits from the sale of plantation products by having cheap labours, forced recruitment, peonage and debt servitude.
<ref>Plantation System. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://encyclopedia2.thefreedictionary.com/Plantation System</ref>
<ref>Plantation System. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://encyclopedia2.thefreedictionary.com/Plantation System</ref>
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==Atlantic slave trade==
==Atlantic slave trade==
{{main|Atlantic slave trade}}
{{main|Atlantic slave trade}}
Enslaved Africans were brought from Africa by the English and other European powers, for their Western Hemisphere colonies. They were shipped from [[port]]s in [[West Africa]] to the [[New World]]. The journey from Africa across the Atlantic Ocean was called "the [[middle passage]]", and was one of the three legs which comprised the [trade] among the continents of [[Europe]], the [[Americas]], and [[Africa]].
Enslaved Africans were brought from Africa by European slave traders to the Americas. They were shipped from [[port]]s in [[West Africa]] to European colonies in the Americas. The journey from Africa across the Atlantic Ocean was called "the [[middle passage]]", and was one of the three legs which comprised the [[triangular trade]] among the continents of [[Europe]], the [[Americas]], and [[Africa]].


By some estimates, it is said that some ten million [[Ethnic groups of Africa|African]]s were brought to the Americas. Only about 6% ended up in the North American colonies, while the majority were taken to the [[Caribbean]] colonies and [[South America]]. A reason many did not make it to the colonies at all was disease and illness. Underneath the slave ship's decks, Africans were held chest-to-chest and could not do much moving. There was waste and urine throughout the hold; this caused the captives to get sick and to die from illnesses that could not be cured.<ref>Stephen Behrendt (1999). "Transatlantic Slave Trade". Africana: The Encyclopedia of the African and African American Experience</ref>
By some estimates, it is said that some ten million [[Ethnic groups of Africa|African]]s were brought to the Americas. Only about 6% ended up in the North American colonies, while the majority were taken to the [[Caribbean]] colonies and [[South America]]. A reason many did not make it to the colonies at all was disease and illness. Underneath the slave ship's decks, Africans were held chest-to-chest and could not do much moving. There was waste and urine throughout the hold; this caused the captives to get sick and to die from illnesses that could not be cured.<ref>Stephen Behrendt (1999). "Transatlantic Slave Trade". Africana: The Encyclopedia of the African and African American Experience</ref>
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[[Indigofera]] was a major crop cultivated during the 18th century, in [[Venezuela]], [[Guatemala]]—and [[Haiti]] until the slave [[Haitian Revolution|rebellion against France]] that left them [[embargo]]ed by Europe and [[India]] in the 19th and 20th centuries. The indigo crop was grown for making blue [[indigo dye]] in the pre-industrial age.
[[Indigofera]] was a major crop cultivated during the 18th century, in [[Venezuela]], [[Guatemala]]—and [[Haiti]] until the slave [[Haitian Revolution|rebellion against France]] that left them [[embargo]]ed by Europe and [[India]] in the 19th and 20th centuries. The indigo crop was grown for making blue [[indigo dye]] in the pre-industrial age.


[[Mahatma Gandhi]]'s investigation of indigo workers' claims of exploitation led to the passage of the [[Champaran]] Agrarian Bill in 1917 by the British colonial government.
[[Mahatma Gandhi]]'s investigation of indigo workers' claims of exploitation led to the passage of the [[Champaran]] Agrarian Bill in 1917 by the [[British Raj|Government of India]].


==See also==
==See also==

Revision as of 02:30, 24 September 2021

A slave plantation was an agricultural farm that used enslaved people for labour. The practice was abolished in most places during the 19th century.

Slavery

See also: Slavery in the United States and Slavery in the colonial United States
Sugar plantation in the British colony of Antigua, 1823

Planters embraced the use of slaves mainly because indentured labor became expensive. Some indentured servants were also leaving to start their own farms as land was widely available. Colonists tried to use Native Americans for labor, but they were susceptible to European diseases and died in large numbers. The plantation owners then turned to enslaved Africans for labor. In 1665, there were fewer than 500 Africans in Virginia but by 1750, 85 percent of the 235,000 slaves lived in the Southern colonies, Virginia included. Africans made up 40 percent of the South’s population.[1]

According to the 1840 United States Census, one out of every four families in Virginia owned slaves. There were over 100 plantation owners who owned over 100 slaves.[2] The number of slaves in the 15 States was just shy of 4 million in a total population 12.4 million and the percentage was 32% of the population.

  • Number of slaves in the Lower South: 2,312,352 (47% of total population) 4,919 million.
  • Number of slaves in the Upper South: 1,208,758 (29% of total population) 4,165 million.
  • Number of slaves in the Border States: 432,586 (13% of total population) 3,323 million.

Fewer than one-third of Southern families owned slaves at the peak of slavery prior to the Civil War. In Mississippi and South Carolina the figure approached one half. The total number of slave owners was 385,000 (including, in Louisiana, some free African Americans), amounting to approximately 3.8% of the Southern and Border states population.

Tobacco field

On a plantation with more than 100 slaves, the capital value of the slaves was greater than the capital value of the land and farming implements. The first plantations occurred in the Caribbean islands, particularly, in the West Indies on the island of Hispaniola, where it was initiated by the Spaniards in the early 16th century. The plantation system was based on slave labor and it was marked by inhumane methods of exploitation. After being established in the Caribbean islands, the plantation system spread during the 16th, 17th and 18th centuries to European colonies in the Americas and Asia. All the plantation system had a form of slavery in its establishment, slaves were initially forced to be labors to the plantation system, these slaves were primarily native Indians, but the system was later extended to include slaves shipped from Africa. Indeed, the progress of the plantation system was accompanied by the rapid growth of the slave trade. The plantation system peaked in the first half of the 18th century, but later on, during the middle of 19th century, there was a significant increase in demand for cotton from European countries, which means there was a need for expanding the plantation in the southern parts of United States. This made the plantation system reach a profound crisis, until it was changed from being forcing slave labour to being mainly low-paid wage labors who contained a smaller proportion of forced labour. The monopolies were insured high profits from the sale of plantation products by having cheap labours, forced recruitment, peonage and debt servitude. [3]

Atlantic slave trade

Main article: Atlantic slave trade

Enslaved Africans were brought from Africa by European slave traders to the Americas. They were shipped from ports in West Africa to European colonies in the Americas. The journey from Africa across the Atlantic Ocean was called "the middle passage", and was one of the three legs which comprised the triangular trade among the continents of Europe, the Americas, and Africa.

By some estimates, it is said that some ten million Africans were brought to the Americas. Only about 6% ended up in the North American colonies, while the majority were taken to the Caribbean colonies and South America. A reason many did not make it to the colonies at all was disease and illness. Underneath the slave ship's decks, Africans were held chest-to-chest and could not do much moving. There was waste and urine throughout the hold; this caused the captives to get sick and to die from illnesses that could not be cured.[4]

As the plantation economy expanded, the slave trade grew to meet the growing demand for labor.[5]

Industrial Revolution in Europe

Western Europe was the final destination for the plantation produce. At this time, Europe was starting to industrialize, and it needed a lot of materials to manufacture goods. Being the power center of the world at the time, they exploited the New World and Africa to industrialize. Africa supplied slaves for the plantations; the New World produced raw material for industries in Europe. Manufactured goods, of higher value, were then sold both to Africa and the New World. The system was largely run by European merchants[6]

Sugar plantations

Sugar cane workers in Puerto Rico, 1941

Sugar has a long history as a plantation crop. Cultivation of sugar had to follow a precise scientific system to profit from the production. Sugar plantations everywhere were disproportionate consumers of labor, often enslaved, because of the high mortality of the plantation laborers. In Brazil, plantations were called casas grandes and suffered from similar issues.

The slaves working the sugar plantation were caught in an unceasing rhythm of arduous labor year after year. Sugarcane is harvested about 18 months after planting and the plantations usually divided their land for efficiency. One plot was lying fallow, one plot was growing cane, and the final plot was being harvested. During the December–May rainy season, slaves planted, fertilized with animal dung, and weeded. From January to June, they harvested the cane by chopping the plants off close to the ground, stripping the leaves and then cutting them into shorter strips to be bundled off to be sent to the sugar cane mill.

In the mill, the cane was crushed using a three-roller mill. The juice from the crushing of the cane was then boiled or clarified until it crystallized into sugar. Some plantations also went a step further and distilled the molasses, the liquid left after the sugar is boiled or clarified, to make rum. The sugar was then shipped back to Europe. For the slave laborer, the routine started all over again.

With the 19th-century abolition of slavery, plantations continued to grow sugar cane, but sugar beets, which can be grown in temperate climates, increased their share of the sugar market.

Indigo plantations

Indigofera was a major crop cultivated during the 18th century, in Venezuela, Guatemala—and Haiti until the slave rebellion against France that left them embargoed by Europe and India in the 19th and 20th centuries. The indigo crop was grown for making blue indigo dye in the pre-industrial age.

Mahatma Gandhi's investigation of indigo workers' claims of exploitation led to the passage of the Champaran Agrarian Bill in 1917 by the Government of India.

See also

References

  1. ^ The Southern Colonies: Plantations and Slavery
  2. ^ "PBS The Slaves' Story". Retrieved 2006-03-24.
  3. ^ Plantation System. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://encyclopedia2.thefreedictionary.com/Plantation System
  4. ^ Stephen Behrendt (1999). "Transatlantic Slave Trade". Africana: The Encyclopedia of the African and African American Experience
  5. ^ "How Slavery Helped Build a World Economy". National Geographic News. 2003-01-03. Retrieved 2020-04-22.
  6. ^ The Abolition Project, http://abolition.e2bn.org/slavery_42.html, accessed 3-26-2013
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