Legal Status of Slaves in America

Slavery was theoretically an economic phenomenon. Throughout history, slavery has existed where it has been economically beneficial to those in power. Slavery served as an advantage not only to masters but was beneficial to cotton consumers, insurance companies and industrial enterprises as well. Just before the civil war "nearly 4 million slaves with a market value close to $4 billion lived in the United States." These slaves were very valuable property. For their labor is what allowed the United States to flourish economically. This valuable property required rules to protect it, to maintain the economic progress that resulted from slave labor. The legal status of slaves were based primarily on their owners and their owners decisions. Slave owners had the choice of allowing certain obligations that some-what gave the slaves a sense of self. However, these privileges were used as another means of control and helped reinforce power. There were numerous laws and restrictions on slaves. Many of these restrictions were based on both race and skin color. Often times these restrictions followed the status of their mother. Although mainly blacks were enslaved and forced to abide by these laws and restrictions, there were some Native Americans who were given the same restrictions. Most of the laws dehumanized the slaves, treating them as if they were more like animals rather than people of passion, emotion and affection. The institution of slavery began in America in Virginia in 1619 where large numbers of Africans were bought to North America against their will. However, the idea of lifetime slavery did not occur immediately. Slaves were originally bought over as indentured servants in which many of them would eventually become free. "But within a few short decades, the lot of slaves had evolved into one of permanent lifetime servitude from which there was no escape, save by the voluntary manumission on the part of the owner, which was not likely to occur." This

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