Development of Slavery

Definition

The process by which the institution of slavery became deeply ingrained in Virginia society during the British colonial period. This involved the establishment of laws and practices that legalized and perpetuated the enslavement of Africans and African Americans.

Related terms

Indentured Servitude: A labor system where individuals worked for a specified period as servants in exchange for passage to America or other benefits.

Tobacco Economy: An economic system in which tobacco cultivation was central; it relied heavily on slave labor and contributed to the growth of slavery in Virginia.

Slave Codes: Laws enacted to control enslaved people's behavior, limit their rights, and ensure their continued enslavement.