Chattel Slavery

Definition

Chattel slavery is a form of slavery where the enslaved person is considered property that can be bought, sold, or traded.

Historical Context

Chattel slavery, a system in which individuals are treated as the personal property of an owner and can be bought, sold, or inherited, has existed since ancient times. It became particularly entrenched in the Americas following European colonization from the 16th century onward. The transatlantic slave trade was central to this, with millions of Africans forcibly transported to work on plantations in brutal conditions.

Historical Significance

The institution of chattel slavery had profound effects on world history. It underpinned the economies of European colonial powers and shaped the social and economic landscapes of the Americas. The labor of enslaved Africans was pivotal for the production of cash crops like sugar, cotton, and tobacco, fueling global trade networks. Chattel slavery's legacy persists today through racial inequalities and societal divisions created during this era. Its eventual abolition also set a precedent for human rights movements worldwide.

Related terms

Slave Trade: This refers to the business or process of procuring, transporting, and selling slaves, especially black Africans to the New World prior to the mid-19th century.

Middle Passage: This was part of the trade where Africans were densely packed onto ships and transported across the Atlantic to the West Indies.

Plantation System: A system in which large farms in the American colonies used the enforced labor of slaves to plant and harvest cotton, rice, sugar, tobacco and other farm produce for trade and export.