Enslaved Populations In Colonial America

Large families were encouraged and kept intact as a means of increasing the labor force of enslavers.

Slave codes were enacted primarily to protect the lives of enslaved people, as they were considered valuable commodities.

Enslaved individuals were treated similarly to the indentured servants they largely replaced.

Their African cultures were suppressed, resulting in the complete eradication of traditional languages, songs, and folkways.

Geographic location largely determined the quality of life and labor conditions for enslaved populations.