Factors to the Rise of Slavery

A slave could be kept for life instead of a few years, and the landowner was under no obligation to give a slave incentive like land. Due to the high price of slaves, normally, a landowner would buy a much cheaper indentured servant, but since they were in short supply, a slave was the better option. Landowners also needed people who were more resistant to diseases like smallpox or malaria. Landowners had to look for a different workforce. Previously, black slaves had been used, but only in small numbers.

The social position of a slave was important as well. The slaves didn’t work easy though.

Many factors had to come into play to allow the growth of black slave trade, but the economic, geographic, and social factors just stated were some of the more important ones. The only way to keep the slaves working was to bring in fresh imports as exhausted slaves withered away, thus adding to the slave trade. Even Christianized slaves weren’t freed, and many slave owners were wary of slaves becoming Christians, because of the worry that they would have to give them more freedoms. This allowed masters to officially declare a slave their property. Black slaves were hardier than the European indentured servants. In the south, conditions were hot and humid. Slaves, although more expensive, were more cost efficient compared to an indentured servant.