Question

The life of Anthony Johnson, an African slave who first arrived in Virginia in 1621, illustrated that from the beginning, black immigrants faced a life of degradation and bondage. Living conditions for colonial blacks steadily improved through the seventeenth century. Racial boundaries were not firmly marked in the early seventeenth century. Colonial blacks could gain their freedom by working industriously on the land.

Answer 1

In the 17th century, Africans in American colonies initially had the opportunity to earn their freedom, similar to white indentured servants. Over time, laws increasingly restricted their freedom, with significant changes in the 1660s that made slavery a more permanent condition.

Step-by-step explanation:

Slavery and Legislation in Colonial America

The history of slavery in America is deeply intertwined with the economic and social developments of the colonies. When the first Africans were brought to Jamestown in 1619, they were initially treated similarly to white indentured servants and could gain their freedom.

However, as the need for labor grew due to the tobacco economy, slavery became institutionalized. The life of Anthony Johnson shows that in the early decades, African Americans could sometimes achieve freedom and own land.

Nevertheless, through a series of restrictive laws in Virginia and Maryland, racial boundaries became more defined and the condition of Blacks deteriorated, culminating with the Virginia General Assembly passing the Slave Codes of 1705, which effectively bonded Africans and their descendants into a life of slavery.

Over time, free Africans like Anthony and Mary Johnson became a rarity as legislation increasingly curtailed the ability of Africans to earn their freedom, leading to a labor force dominated by enslaved Africans. By the 1760s, slavery was a national institution not confined to the South, with significant numbers of enslaved people throughout the colonies.