There were many reasons. First, the Native Americans were quick to escape from their white masters. They knew the terrain, and there were other tribes willing to help those who escaped. African slaves, on the other hand, did not know the land well, and they were hesitant to join native tribes, though many did in the decades leading up to the Civil War.
Another was the mortality rate. Native Americans contracted white diseases quickly and died. Africans survived the hot climate of the South and the Caribbean better than many whites. Africans were more resistant to malaria and yellow fever than whites. This made the African slave more valuable.
Finally, African slaves were trained in European-style agriculture. Native Americans were not. Even though the companion planting style used by Native Americans is popular with gardeners today, it was considered disorderly in colonial times. African slaves were more easily trained. Even though they were more expensive, they were also readily available, and their ability to undergo extreme conditions made them quite valuable.
No comments:
Post a Comment