Why were Africans concidered "better" slaves than Indians in Virginia?

Question

Howard Zinn "A Peoples History of the United States" chapter 2

Answer 1

Well the africans, had nowhere to hide The indians could be rescued,plus they had shown resentment to corporal punishment

Answer 2

The answer that "Native Americans could run away and hide whereas African slaves were unfamiliar with the land" was more of an additional benefit.
One difference between using Native Americans as slaves and Africans was that Native Americans were gathers and hunters. West Africans were skilled in cropping, farming, and crafting. Also, Native Americans were more prone to disease because they had not been exposed to the same people that west Africans had been exposed to. West Africans had been in contact with Europeans for centuries before that. Native Americans Americans had not. At the end of the day Africans made "better more efficient" slaves.

Answer 3

It's interesting to see that Zinn is the source of your question. Didn't you finish reading the rest of your homework? If you read closely you might find something that sounds roughly like this:

The Indians refused to submit to that kind of treatment, so they ran away, and disappeared into the countryside (with which they were very familiar) African slaves were considered a better OPTION for labor for the following reasons - 1 The ready supply of labor already in existence in the African slave markets. 2 - Africans were more acclimated to the unsuitable working conditions found in the Virginia colony. 3 - It was more difficult for Africans to run away due to their lack of familiarity with the country.

Answer 4

I'm not sure but I think it had to do with not knowing the area and not having families nearby. The Indians were a flight risk because they had places they could go. Also, the Africans had lost their entire world. They were taken so far from home that they knew there was no hope of ever returning. Not only were they taken from their families and homes but even the trees and dirt were different. In the opinion of the slave owner, Africans had little choice but to make the master the center of their new world.

Answer 5

Because since it was the Indians land to begin with, -they could run away, go back to their tribes- & never be seen again. Whereas the poor Africans were in a totally strange environment- & had no knolledge or relatives in the New World. They could be forced to become dependent on the white man for all of their needs. For them- there was no place to run.

Answer 6

Ok ... Native Americans didn't dig being forced to "work" for anyone. The Indian's home was outdoors, not inside a building or behind a fence.

Being Forced to work, angered the Native Americans because you cannot "OWN" another human being. When you hear that Native Americans burned farms, know they were actually Rescue Missions to get the enslaved Warriors back.

The intensity of these Rescues caused such great fear that the Plantation owners turned to ..............

Answer 7

Africans were considered better slaves because they couldn't run away and find their way home. They had a whole ocean to cross! Indians just had a day or two walk to make it back to their tribe.

Answer 8

What I remember is that the Native Americans knew the land better so they could easily escape. They were being taken on their land so they had people who weren't taken that could help them. Whereas Africans were taken to a new land and new culture and had no idea how to escape when they didn't know the land. Hope this helps!

Answer 9

they were further from home and were easier to subdue
and most of the Indians had been killed ,there was always a ship of fresh Africans coming in ,and the planters were also breeding them.
it was a black page in American history

Answer 10

I thought your mother was a pretty good slave myself!

She acted as she just couldn't do enough.

I tried to get her to get up off her knees, but you know how it is!