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Slaves

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#new-world #colonists
Slaves are such an important factor in the building of the North American colonies, that we cannot ignore them.

Acquiring Slaves

  • They cannot directly be bought int he home port
  • Instead, they will be offered at the international trade ports in the colonies
  • They can be forced from the natives
  • They can be bought from natives for goods or military alliance
    The slaves acquired will have the Colonist States enslaved.

Slavery has to be subject to some laws depending on the country:

  • Spanish colonies allow slavery of non-christians. This will change for natives in 1542 which makes enslaving natives illegal (harder) and shifts to African slaves instead.
  • Portugese (?)
  • English colonies did not allow slavery per se. They had the indentured servant system, which allowed slave-like contracts for a limited time. Those could be extended to imported slaves. In 1661 slavery is officially allowed.
  • French colonies did not allow enslaving people, but possession was okay. This led to acquiring slaves through trade or militay alliances with the neighboring natives, which already had a practice of enslavement. In 1709 slavery becomes legal, leading to a boom in slave trade.
    Even before it is legal, slaves will be offered at the ports, but it is not possible yet to establish trade routes.

Jobs

Slaves can only work certain jobs:
farming (food, tobacco, cotton, sugar), mining (silver, ore), lumberjack
They can not become hunter, fisher or work in the manufacturing industry

Control

Because slaves have a tendency to revolt or flee, there is a control value for them. With more slaves control will decrease. Military presence and buildings like the slave quarters, stockade, militia quarters will increase control.