These articles actually brought me to see how slavery actually played a major role in the North. In middle school and high school we learned that the North was much more tolerant and the South was where slavery existed and was at its highest peak. Surprisingly, New York itself was actually huge slave port.
Like Ashley said the Dutch brought slaves to New York to help and support the economy, but as time went on they were considered inferior and were being justified as slaves. Through the first chapter of In the Shadow of Slavery it can be seen just how intolerant and discriminatory Northern whites were to slaves as were Southern whites. For example, they would justify that blacks were the only group “fit” to be slaves and also that Spanish Negroes were considered slaves because of their “swarthy skin.” Slaves were not just assistance but became a necessity for the Dutch in order for their company to grow and prosper.
However, once slaves began to find ways to get around being treated like property, the colonizers found ways to close these loopholes (like Marinna said). For instance, the church refused to baptize slaves, since the law originally stated that no Christian could be used for forced labor. Furthermore, even in 1644 when the first slaves of New Amsterdam were given “half freedom,” it wasn’t given to actually free the slaves, but to mark the difference between Europeans and Africans. Even after half freedom the so-called free slaves still had to help the company when needed and pay an annual tribute in furs, produce etc.
Although slavery was very inhumane and shameful, after learning about the importance of slavery all through out high school,middle school and through these articles, l find the history of New York/US difficult to imagine without slavery. As William said it is definitely a question to ponder upon.
