The Others in America: Stories of Migration and Resilience

1. “Others in America” • At one point, we were all “others” in America • This is the story of how some of the others came to be here

2. Europeans come to the colonies • England • 1600’s – 90% of immigrants came from England • ½ of these were indentured servants – poor immigrants who received passage to the colonies in return for working for 4-7 years in return. • Prior to 1660 – religious persecution, political upheaval, high unemployment brought the English to the colonies • After 1660 – things better in England – emigration from England slowed

3. Scots and Scotch-Irish • Poorer than the English so many reasons to come to colonies • Came in waves – 250,000 Scotch –Irish came to colonies during the 1700’s • Came in search of LAND! • Settled in mountainous back country and farmed on frontier land taken from Indians

4. Germans • 100,000 German immigrants came to the colonies during the 1700’s • Mostly Protestant • PUSH factor – left Germany due to wars, high taxes, religious persecution • William Penn – recruited Germans to come to Pennsylvania – found cheap land, plentiful food, and high wages! • They kept coming!

5. Results • Turn to your table partner and discuss • How did different groups of people coming to the colonies change the colonies they came to????

6. Slave Trade • Landowning colonists needed workers to raise crops • English indentured servants helped to do this – but… • we just said – English immigration slowed after 1660 • So who filled the gap??

7. Transatlantic Slave trade • By mid 1600’s colonies passed laws that supported permanent enslavement of Africans. Some laws said children of slaves would be slaves. • Legal status changes promoted notion that slaves were inferior to whites • Slaves seized in Africa by their fellow Africans – brought to port – transported to the Americas • Triangular trade- slave traders went from Europe to Africa, traded goods for slaves. Then, the Middle Passage – enslaved Africans taken to the Americas to sell and then ships head back to Europe and Africa.

8. Triangular Trade

9. Middle Passage • Horror – is the best description • “I was soon put down under the decks, and there I received such a salutation in my nostrils as I had never experienced in my life: so that, with the loathsomeness of the stench, and crying together, I became so sick and low that I was not able to eat, nor had I the least desire to taste anything. I now wished for the last friend, death, to relieve me.” • From OlaudahEquiano – West African enslaved at age 11 • At least 10% of enslaved Africans didn’t survive the Middle Passage

10. Africans in the Americas • Slaves sent to auction upon arrival – families split up • Slaves had different languages and tribal identities – forged new culture – African Americans • Northern Slavery- • Slaves a small minority in the NE and Middle colonies • Served here as farmhands, dockworkers, sailors and house servants • Southern Slavery • Many slaves in the south • Worked hard- fed, clothed and housed in minimal fashion to maximize profit • Worked raising tobacco, rice, indigo or sugar • Long workdays – supervised by overseer with whip

11. African American culture • Based culture on African traditions and situation in America • Most adopted Christianity – some blended it with African religion • Africans – many different traditions and cultures from their various homelands in Africa • BLEND to create new culture

12. Runaways and rebellion • Desire for freedom – inate • Rebellions in islands and on mainland Americas • Largest rebellion – 1739 at Stono, SCwhere 100 slaves killed 20 whites before defeated • Maroons – those slaves who ran away and hid in swamps or forests • Some fled to Spanish (who welcomed them to strengthen their own frontier against the British) or Native Americans • Middle colonies and N.Eng – tried to fit into free black communities • Some rebelled by working slowly, pretending to be sick, breaking tools, …

13. Free African Americans • Most enslaved for life • Some freed – through earning money and buying freedom or master’s will, etc… but very few • Freed African Americans – usually lived in cities • Phyllis Wheatley – 1st African American to publish a book of poems. Educated by her owner, John Wheatley. Colonial publishers refused to publish her book of poems – had to have it published in London. Set free by her master.