Chapter 13: Colonies of Sugar
In Chapter 13 under the “Comparing Colonial Societies in the Americas” section, Strayer writes about “In the Lands of the Aztecs and the Incas," "Colonies of Sugar" and "Settler Colonies in North America." For this post, I will focus on the "Colonies of Sugar" section, specifically responding to the comparison sidebar question: “How did the plantation societies of Brazil and the Caribbean differ from those of southern colonies in British North America” (p. 568)?
The plantation societies of Brazil and the Caribbean differed from those of southern colonies in British North America in two main ways: treatment and racial system. In both north and south Americas, European empires noticed so much land and the opportunity for agriculture requiring a lot of labor, which was supplied by slaves. In North America,slaves "reproduced themselves, and by the time of the Civil War almost all North American slaves had been born in the New World" (p. 571). These colonies experienced almost no racial mixing than those in Brazil, and kept the racial system strictly black Africans, "red" Native Americans, and white Europeans. This system also worked because European women had joined their significant others during the migration to North America. All Africans or partially Africans were treated as slaves with no rights, no education and no freedom of choosing another profession.
The plantation societies of Brazil and the Caribbean differed from those of southern colonies in British North America in two main ways: treatment and racial system. In both north and south Americas, European empires noticed so much land and the opportunity for agriculture requiring a lot of labor, which was supplied by slaves. In North America,slaves "reproduced themselves, and by the time of the Civil War almost all North American slaves had been born in the New World" (p. 571). These colonies experienced almost no racial mixing than those in Brazil, and kept the racial system strictly black Africans, "red" Native Americans, and white Europeans. This system also worked because European women had joined their significant others during the migration to North America. All Africans or partially Africans were treated as slaves with no rights, no education and no freedom of choosing another profession.
The racial system in South America was different, the Africans had more opportunities and Mestizos or Mulattoes children could pass for whites and have more rights. According to the text, "many more slaves were voluntarily set free by their owners in Brazil than in North America, and free blacks and mulattoes in Brazil had more economic opportunities than did their counterparts in the United States. At least a few among them found positions as political leaders, scholars, musicians, writers, and artists. Some were even hired as slave catchers" (p. 571). In South America, slaves had a high mortality rate from disease and harsh working conditions in the field and the Portuguese kept importing slaves.
Until these days, Brazilians are a mixed race and people are not only seen by their skin color but also by their education and economic status. Americans these days are also diverse, from different parts of the world, but not of a mixed race like in Brazil. I feel that the racial system from the colonial times is still evident In North America, on the other hand, people are first seen by their skin color and then education still affects how black people are treated and the opportunities they have.
Reference:
Photos:
Strayer, R. (2016). Ways of the World: A Brief Global History. Bedford/St. Martin's
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