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TASK FORCE TO STUDY THE HISTORY AND LEGACY OF SLAVERY IN MARYLAND (Final Report) 1999/12/31 MdHR 991422 MdHR 991422, Image No: 215 Print image (94K) |
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TASK FORCE TO STUDY THE HISTORY AND LEGACY OF SLAVERY IN MARYLAND (Final Report) 1999/12/31 MdHR 991422 MdHR 991422, Image No: 215 Print image (94K) |
| African Americans Arrive in Maryland Many African Americans came to the New World as indentured servants, however, most came involuntarily. When the servants' terms were completed, they received their freedom. Some of them became landowners. In 1642, John Price and Mathias Sousa were among the thirteen Africans who arrived on the Ark and Dove at St. Mary's City. In 1663 the Assembly in Maryland ruled that all African Americans brought into Maryland would be enslaved for life. The law specified that the children of enslaved persons should also be enslaved for life. The largest group of African Americans were brought to Maryland in the late 1690's. Most of these persons came from the west coast of Africa and some had lived in the West Indies. Almost all of the other immigrants were Europeans, most of them from the British Isles. A few Dutch, French, German, and Italian settlers arrived during the seventeenth century. The Scotch-Irish began to settle on the Eastern Shore in the 1680's. The growth in population, the spreading of settlement, the continued clearing of the land, and the introduction of livestock had severe effects on the environment. Plowing of the land caused harsh land erosion. Tobacco crops used up important soil nutrients. As settlers cleared more and more of the land, they made it harder for Native Americans to practice hunting and farming for their livelihood. Many fur-bearing animals were slaughtered by the settlers. The Native Americans became increasingly dependent on Europeans for food, utensils, clothing, and other goods. Introduced by Europeans, alcohol and smallpox proved fatal for Native Americans. During the seventeenth century many Native Americans were given land in Dorchester County to use as reservations. During the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries dissent grew between the "haves" and the "have nots," between political and religious groups, and between the colonies and England. People belonged to several different groups made up of male and female; young and old; black and white; free and unfree; immigrant and native-born; rich, middling, and poor. Only 15 percent of the population, who were free white males, enjoyed full legal rights. A smaller group of property holders had the right to vote. By 1775 African Americans made up 28% of the population and mulattoes made up 2 percent. In the prime tobacco production areas such as Anne Arundel and, the lower Western Shore, 40 to 50 percent of the population was African American. Definition of Slave by Maryland Law Most of the states defined slaves as chattel, and the laws of Maryland (1791) declared that "In case the personal property of a ward shall consist of specific articles such as slaves, working beasts, animals of any kind, stock furniture, plate, books, and so forth, the court. ..may at any time pass an order for its' sale. "The issue of female slaves in Maryland was considered part of the use, like that of other female animals. Enslaved persons had few legal rights. They could marry, but they could not sue to prevent the break-up of a family. They wed legally but were unable to own property. They could raise poultry and tend a patch of ground. They could sell chickens, eggs, and raise crops. Any money that they earned could be used as they wished. In theory this was very practical but in reality it was seldom realized. Enslaved persons worked long days, usually 13 to 14 hours per day. SS-65 |