The Roots of American Slavery: Virginias Slave Laws (1630-1705)

Abstract

Virginia, the first colony formed in the United States, became the birthplace of American slavery and the race-based labor system. Between the years 1630 and 1705, Virginia's slave laws shaped society and culture for hundreds of years to come. The state moved from a society with slaves to a slave society, deciding who was free and who was not, using religion as a weapon, and utilizing severe punishment.  It was a common belief among many of the forming colonies what a slave’s role was to be. Virginia decided to put into law who was to be considered a slave and who was not. They intended that all 'servants' imported to the country were immediately taken to be slaves for all intents and purposes. In Table 1, titled “Population Growth in Virginia, 1640-1700,” it was indicated the dramatic growth of negro people. In the year 1640, there were 150 blacks making up 1% of the population. By 1700, black people made up 28% of the population, totaling 16,390 people. This is a huge jump in the population size, suggesting that Virginia moved towards a slave society. Law Six also shows Virginia’s history in this way, when the government decided who was born free and who was not: “Be it therefore enacted and declared by this present grand assembly, that all children borne in this country shalbe held bond or free only according to the condition of the mother.” This law essentially details whether or not a child of a slave becomes an enslaved or free human being dependent on the racial condition of his or her mother. The reason this was so important at the time is because many biracial children were born from the slave master (a white man) and a slave woman. The British people that come over to the United States and formed colonies, such as in Virginia, typically identified as Christian men and women. This allowed them to utilize religion as a weapon to keep enslaving black people. In Law Eight, it explains that “it is enacted and declared by this grand assembly, and the authority thereof, that the conferring of baptisme doth not alter the condition of the person as to his bondage or ffreedome; that diverse masters, ffreed from this doubt, may more carefully endeavour the propagation of christianity by permitting children, though slaves, or those of greater growth if capable to be admitted to that sacrament.” Slaves and servants were hoping to become free through a conversion of religion, but the lawmakers and government officials closed this loophole. This excluded many black people from practicing a faith completely. Law One also describes this weaponization of God. The law states that a person, most likely an Englishmen, was to be “soundly whipped, before an assembly of Negroes and others for abusing himself to the dishonor of God and shame of Christians, by defiling his body in lying with a negro; which fault he is to acknowledge next Sabbath day.” This was done to embarrass both the offender and the group of people he chose to interact with. The lawmakers in this instance are choosing to represent God in a way that once again excludes black people from a relationship with him, as well as interpreting wrongfully how God looks at black people. The colonists in Virginia created a clear distinction of how they view slaves and free people, most obviously by how they chose to dole out punishments. Law Two allows everyone ownership of a firearm and ammunition, except for any black person or slave: “ALL...