Why Was Racial Based Slavery So Successful?

When looking back on American history, it is easy to call into question how an institution as unjust as slavery could exist in such a country that was and still is incredibly dedicated to promoting equality and independence. However, it is also quite easy to produce the rational behind the success of slavery in the New World. When Europeans arrived to what would become the United States, they attempted to enslave the indigenous peoples; however, they soon discovered it was an impossible feat because the Native Americans had the home field advantage and they were all dying off as a result of the diseases carried by Europeans. After attempting to utilize the natives and even indentured servants, colonists soon determined the enslavement of Africans to be a much simpler plan.

In 1619, African slaves were brought to the New World, and colonists quickly benefited from the newly created racial based slavery. The difference between enslaving the indigenous people and the Africans was that unlike the indigenous people, the Africans were literally removed from their homeland and all social networks. It was much harder for an African to rebel, for they had no one else to turn to if they were to succeed. By kidnapping them from their homes, colonists forced African slaves to become dependent on their new owners for everything including food, water, clothes, and living space. Another benefit to racial based slavery was that unlike indentured servants, African slaves were free laborers who were forced to work for life. Racial based slavery also provided an easy method to identify who was and was not a slave. If a European indentured servant were to run away from his master, it was much easier for him to simply create a new life in another town. However, if an African slave were to flee, they were quickly identified as a runaway based on the color of their skin.

The most effective quality of racial based slavery was the idea of the inferiority of Africans. It was easy for colonists to justify their enslaving of other human beings because Africans were considered “other”. They were believed to be an inadequate race compared to the whites, and even a barbaric race that needed to be controlled. It was also this idea that allowed for the acceptance of slavery by Christianity. Africans were believed to be heathens who needed to be taught the way of God, and luckily for American slave traders this was one of the main reasons why slavery was condoned and even encouraged as America was paving her way into becoming an international power.