Origins of Slavery in America

Slavery in America began when the first African slaves were brought to the North American colony of Jamestown, Virginia, in 1619. During this period of time slaves in America helped grow an economy which would help grow a new nation. By the mid-19th century, America's westward expansion, impacted the need of slaves since many of them needed slaves to do the work for them.

Slave traders started bringing slaves to America, so they could trade for the resources they needed. Afterwards, over the next three centuries, slave traders brought at least fifteen million Africans to America. Now, that America owned slaves in 1690 one out of every nine families in Boston would own a slave.

Slavery in America