Africa in Early North America, 1619-1726

Q1. Race” and “slavery”: Extending slavery to “white” persons 

A number of scholars use race to define either black or white people based on the different attributes of those individuals. However, the term sociologically depicts how different people were subjected to inhumane treatments due to perceived skin color. Conversely, slavery is the discrimination and marginalization of people based on preexisting racial prejudices evidenced in the absolute powers of some white rulers over their servants and other blacks, especially Africans and Indians (Lockeley, n.d). Notably, the two definitions depict a vast array of interracial cooperation that existed at the beginning of the modern era. Therefore, slavery and race do not rely on the notion of fully-formed racial consciousness but the almost synonymous use depends on the then intermingling between black slaves and white servants. Additionally, it was possible to extend slavery to white people because the white settlers were much superior over their subjects. The black Africans who were individuals of limited mental capacity and primitive reasoning who were tasked to performed involuntary work due to their physical prowess and the negative stereotypes of English settlers (Lockeley, n.d). Similarly, the lower-class whites underwent the aforesaid treatments and this implies that even though they had a sense of racial sensibility, they were also subjected to inhumane conditions. 

Q2. Geography and climate on the development of slavery 

The varying topography and climate of America, which ranged from subtropical to cold temperate greatly contributed to the development of slavery in the country, especially in North America. For instance, the geographically fertile soils and favorable climatic conditions in the virgin country facilitated the advent of slavery, an institution that formerly relied on economic development (Lockeley, n.d). Therefore, the economic considerations regarding the cheap and plentiful land enhanced the greater development and expansion of slavery to its notable level. However, the scarce labor necessitated the demand for enforced labor in all colonies, especially in South Carolina. 

Reference 

Lockeley, T. (n.d). Chapter 15: Race and Slavery, pp. 336-357. Retrieved February 3, 2019, from https://warwick.ac.uk/fac/arts/cas/staff/lockley/smithpacquette.pdf