Slaves and overseers
Slaves and overseers
William Bradford began to write "Of Plymouth Plantation" in 1630 It's typical of the Puritan plain style in its reliance on nouns and verbs and the absence of many adjectives or showy rhetorical devices.
Slaves provided significant economic benefits to a typical colonial family by performing labor-intensive tasks such as farming, household chores, and skilled trades, which allowed the family to thrive and accumulate wealth. They enabled plantation owners to maximize production and profits, particularly in cash crops like tobacco, cotton, and sugar. Additionally, slaves often helped sustain the household by freeing family members to engage in other economic or social activities. This reliance on enslaved labor was a cornerstone of colonial economies and social structures.
On a typical eighteenth century plantation, self-sufficiency was promoted by the workers, fuel, water source, sugar works yard and sugar being the main crop, along with the practice of subsistence farming all being on the plantation. Generally speaking, the categories of persons living on the plantation were Negroes and Whites. The Negroes houses were set apart from the estate buildings of the plantation in close proximity to the fields to enable easier access to work. "As you enter the gates, there is a long range of negro houses, like thatched cottages and a row of coconut trees and clumps of cotton trees." [Lady Nugent p. 28]. Their houses were made of wattle, mud or timber. The planter or his attorney in his absence would occupy the Great House. The other whites', overseers, bookkeepers etc. houses were located in close proximity to the Great House, which better enable them to supervise the slaves. The sugar works yard was located at the center of the plantation, a considerable walking distance away from the Great house. "The sugar works yard consisted of the mill, boiling house, curing house, distillery, trash house and workshops for skilled craftsmen like blacksmith and carpenters." [A Study and Revision Guide for CXC Caribbean History p 35]. The factory buildings were closely positioned so they did not have to travel far to get from one place to another. These buildings were maintained by paid white artisans or skilled slaves on the plantation. Lower St. Johncomplex plan. Boiling table held four coppers. Entire building would have supported a timber roof. Plan by author, 2004. Rivers, wells and aqueducts are some examples of water sources used on various plantations. Higman stated that, "Water was used for three main purposes." The growth of sugar cane and for this purpose was obtained from aqueducts and rivers by irrigation. Second, it was the preferred source of power for powering sugar mills to juice the sugar canes because it was cheaper and more reliable than animals, wind and steam power. Lastly, water was used to keep the livestock hydrated and for domestic purposes, such as washing. Woodland was a very essential source on the plantation site. It had many uses. According to Hamilton-Willie, The woodland provided lumber for building purposes, as well as fuel for the boilers, and for cooking. Provision grounds for slaves were of great importance to them because it gave them a status under slavery as it was considered an asset. The slaves' provisions were depended on by whites and others unassociated with the estate, for food. The vegetable gardens also provided food for the white people on the estates. Lastly, sugar cane was planted on the plantation site, and was the reason for a plantation and all things and persons on it. [A Study and Revision Guide for CXC Caribbean History p 35] However, eighteenth century plantations were self-sufficient because they provided all the things needed for its inhabitants, to survive.
In Colonial America, the middle ranks of seaport society typically included professions such as merchants, shipbuilders, and skilled artisans. Merchants played a crucial role in trade, facilitating the exchange of goods both locally and internationally. Shipbuilders were vital in constructing vessels for trade and fishing, while skilled artisans provided necessary services and products, contributing to the economic vitality of seaport towns. This diverse range of professions helped shape the bustling economies of these coastal communities.
Slaves and overseers
Slaves and overseers
enslaved people who were forced to work on the plantation. The wealthy family would oversee the operations of the plantation, while skilled workers, such as carpenters and blacksmiths, would carry out various tasks. Enslaved people would perform the majority of the labor, working in the fields, tending to crops, and contributing to the overall economic success of the plantation.
Slaves and Overseers (APEX)
what was the layout of a typical sugar plantation
Black Culture in the Eighteenth-Century Chesapeake and Lowcountry ... In both societies, seasoned slaves from the Caribbean predominated among the earliest ... Chesapeake than in the Lowcountry, other dissimilarities incline in a different direction ... a typical Chesapeake slave household at this stage of development.
Those who had higher social standings ran the plantation followed by those who worked in the house and then the workers.
Rum gets its sugars to distill from sugar cane.
Rice plantation slaves typically worked in wet and marshy conditions, tending to fields that required constant irrigation and maintenance. Cotton plantation slaves, on the other hand, worked in drier conditions, cultivating crops that were physically demanding to harvest due to the need for picking cotton by hand. Both groups endured harsh conditions and long hours of labor, but the nature of their work and living conditions varied based on the specific crop being produced.
Chesapeake, Virginia, is primarily considered part of the temperate deciduous forest biome. This region features a mix of broadleaf trees, such as oaks and maples, and experiences four distinct seasons. Additionally, the area has wetlands and estuaries due to its proximity to the Chesapeake Bay, contributing to its rich biodiversity. Overall, the climate and vegetation reflect characteristics typical of the southeastern United States.
COTTON
William Bradford began to write "Of Plymouth Plantation" in 1630 It's typical of the Puritan plain style in its reliance on nouns and verbs and the absence of many adjectives or showy rhetorical devices.