Why did African-Americans own slaves?

Answer 1

Slaves were vital to the U.S. economy. Slaves produced the export crops that supported the f the colonies and later the United States. Tobacco, rice, indigo and later cotton and cloth were the important exports. Although most Americans did not own slaves many northerners as well as southerners profited from slavery. Among the industries that profited from slavery were the cloth manufacturing industry, shipping, banking and insurance..

There is so much shame to go around on the issue. That old quote always comes to mind for me; All that it takes for evil to prosper, is that good men do nothing.

By the !830's, very few slave ships came to America anymore. There were some poorly enforced laws, and some shame in buying new slaves. Yet millions of slaves were now held, and their children were born into slavery as well, so the numbers continued to increase. It became fashionable to release slaves upon the death of the owners. (Correction: It became illegal in many slave states for freed slaves to remain in the state. Meanwhile, non slavery states such as Illinois enacted laws to prohibit free blacks from residing in the state) and A cheap way to relieve guilt I guess.

The way the average American ignored the problem is shameful. The way former slaves were treated after 1865 was terrible. And the fact that the Democrat party today does not own the problem, that was 75% their fault, is amazing.

I support reparations for the proven descendents of slaves, and the Native Americans. No restrictions, government land and cash payments. It would not resolve the issue, yet it would be a small justice. And a lot better for the economy than giving money to the banks.

Sorry, I cant really answer your question. Nobody can. It is Americas greatest sin.

Answer 2

The Columbian Exchange made a difference in the distribution of animals, plants and many of the different populations from Europe, Africa, Asia and North America. The changes that occured on these hemispheres would change the world into modern time. With the arrival of Europeans on the shores of the new world there began a conscription of the native population as a work force or what is commonly known as slavery. Unfortunatley his would not work out in the long run. The native work force was unable to aquire immunity towards many of the European diseases. There for with the decimation of the work force Europeans had to look else where. On the African continent there exsisted a supply of labor that was in inexhaustable. This was not a human transaction that was originated by the Europeans but by the ancient Egyptions who had originally imported slaves from Ethiopia. This trade would be expanded upon by the Portugese and other Europeans with the discovery of the new world. The importation of Africans had many advantages. African slaves when brought to the New World, were disorganized. Taken captive by raiders from different regions, they spoke different languages (even today, 80% of the world's languages are those of various African peoples) and adhered to different beliefs. Suffice it to say that more often than not the only language in which the captives could communicate with each other was the one they learned from their captors.

Additionally, it's hard to enslave a person living in their native landscape. The slave can simply run away and survive, because he knows how to make a living by hunting, gathering, or growing maize. African slaves, were they to run away, would be clueless about how to feed themselves in the forests and prairies of North America. Not so in the jungle of South America, however. There (most notably, in Guyana), quite a few African slaves did manage to run away and build African-style village communities, which exist to this day. The Africans were brought in primarily because they had been around old world diseases and had some familiarity with Old World style agriculture. The economic advantages were also very important. Orignally the africans were brought into supplement the Native population but soon became the main labor force. laws were passed that made the Africans chattel. Hence the term chattel slave.

Answer 3

people bought slaves so they could help them work on a plantation the slaves usually were not treated very well.men would by young girl slaves and make them sleep with them than shoot the girl

Answer 4

South African Indian guy-Clifton college 2007-Durban-

People use slaves because they could work the slaves to death if they wanted. it was a source of labour xx

Answer 5

Before the Civil War, some free African Americans owned slaves and a few also employed white people. They did this because it was in their economic interest to do so.