George Washingon And Slavery: A Documentary Portrayal

Slavery in America began in Jamestown, Virginia, in 1619, to aid in the collection of tobacco crops. But with the invention of the cotton gin in 1793, the importance of slavery only grew until its reliance would divide the nation in the American Civil War (“Slavery in America”). Most who know anything about slavery in America know this basic this basic information, but there is information that is not just common sense. In 1620, most Africans were indentured servants instead of slaves and by 1640, after a specified time of servitude, the indentured servants would become freeman and would then have land and indentured servants on their own. It was not until 1660 that there was a definite answer to what Africans were which was Africans = Negros = Slaves. Slaves overtook indentured servants as the predominate work in the 18th century because masters would have to repurchase and retrain new indentured servants, while slaves would work for the master
Proof of this can be found from a substantive quote from George Washington himself in the book, George Washingon and Slavery: A Documentary Portrayal, by Fritz Hirschfeld. I am sorry to observe that the generality of them [slaveholders] view these poor creatures [slaves] in scarcely any other light than they do a draught horse or ox; neglecting them as much when they are unable to work; instead of comforting and nursing them when they lye on a sick bed. (Hirschfeld, 40) George Washington was the first president and the first precedence when it comes to how to deal with slavery. He absolutely treated slaves as the human beings they were and knew it was morally wrong to keep them captive; and while he was handcuffed with what he could do politically, he was definitely a white Founding Father that was against the institution of