Were there White slaves in America?

Question

Those academics who insist that slavery is an exclusively Black racial condition forget or deliberately omit the fact that the word slave originally was a reference to Whites of East European origin - "Slavs."

http://www.nationalvanguard.org/printer.php?id=10863

Answer 1

Why yes, there were. In fact, there were even black slave-holders. Down South, there's a lot of poverty, and so, it came to pass that in order to survive and pay off debt, you become an indentured servant.

It is true about the Slavs. The Vikings used to make regular raids into various places and carry off the inhabitants for the slave market in Muslim countries. The Moors dealt in slave trading all the time from Spain.

Answer 2

Slavery is an injustice that transcends race. Slavery has been used throughout history and has targeted groups of nearly every "race."

However, there were no Anglo slaves in America--although, to some extent, Anglo women in early America were enslaved. In some instances, Anglo settlers were enslaved by certain indigenous Amerindian cultures, but "whites" as a group were never slaves in America.

However, individuals of mixed race (i.e. Anglo and another "race") were often enslaved.

Please note that indentured servants were *not* slaves. Slaves were (largely) servants for life without any say and were completely under the authority of the slave holder. Indentured servants were under contract and did not (necessarily) work for life. Such indentured servitude was also used in relatively rare instances as a form of "jail sentence." Most importantly, slaves were considered property rather than human beings. Indentured servants retained their status as human beings.

Answer 3

The answer to your question is yes! There are two things that anyone examining the subject of slavery should keep in mind.
1.) Color/Race based slavery is a fictitious phenomenon that exists in America. Every race under the sun has experienced slavery.
2.) Do not believe that the colleges and universities have made you knowledgeable about this subject. School taught slavery and reality slavery is two totally different things.

As a result of the unrealistic education that we receive, most Americans are unaware of the Irish slave trade that existed right here on US soil. It predated the Transatlantic/African slave trade, and in some aspects it was worse!
Although, Irish slaves carried a significant percentage of white slaves in America, white slaves came from all over Europe. Other slaves came from the ranks of the homeless and the poor, whom King James I held responsible for spreading the plague, and from England’s swelling prison population. There was NO INDENTURE involved. These people were slaves! The treatment they received was horrific, even in comparison to African slaves that came to America years later. When African slaves entered the market they were very expensive, and their mortality rate under harsh circumstances made them a more lucrative merchandise than their white counterparts, that would die off much sooner. African slaves could be purchased for 50 sterling when white slaves could be purchased for no more than 5.Often times slave owners bread Irish women and girls with African men to produce slaves with a distinct complexion. These new “mulatto” slaves brought a higher price than Irish livestock, and likewise, enabled the settlers to save money rather than purchase new African slaves. This form of breeding gave slave owners so much wealth that they could manipulate the market. This practice of interbreeding Irish females with African men went on for several decades and was so widespread that, in 1681, legislation was passed “forbidding the practice of mating Irish slave women to African slave men for the purpose of producing slaves for sale. It was stopped only because it interfered with the profits of slave transport companies.

Answer 4

white slaves america

Answer 5

Tell me more. How interesting. I was thinking more recently of the Irish indentured servants, of women generally doing 2/3 of the world's work and most of it for free, and of course of the First Nations slaves held and traded by our not so peaceable aboriginal brothers and sisters in North America. They were also enthusiastic participants in the African slave trade.

Answer 6

lol... To say there were white slaves in the United States of America is misinformation and statements from apologist of African slavery. The Irish, who were treated like slaves in the old world, was a continuation of the practice when they were sent here, (just like the English sent white undesirables to Australia and no one called them "slaves.) However this was BEFORE the formation of the U.S. It should also be noted that "legal" enslavement in the U.S. was solely based on PHENOTYPE. (non white).

Thank you.

Answer 7

There were white slaves in America, but they were, by law, treated differently than "colored" (that is, Native American or African) slaves. And, this is different in scope, range, and effect from the institution of chattel slavery as enacted on the African people. While individual white people may have been enslaved, the color of their skin did not mark them as "slaves" as it did the black African people.

So yes, it happened. Is it as bad as what happened to the African people who were brought here as slaves-- No.

Answer 8

YES!

There were THOUSANDS of American Indian slaves and white Indentured Servants in America.

Native American slaves were used by Whites AND other Native Americans.

Please see http://www.accessgenealogy.com/native/tribes/history/indianslaves.htm for a brilliant article.

During the 17th century, enslavement of Indians was common. Many of these Indian slaves were exported to other colonies, especially the "sugar islands" of the Caribbean. Historian Alan Gallay estimates the number of Indians in the South sold in the British slave trade from 1670-1715 at between 24,000 and 51,000.

As were WHITES slaves owned by WHITE PEOPLE.

Originally in the American colonies, 1600 to 1800, Native Americans and other groups, mostly white Europeans such as captured soldiers, minor criminals, etc., were used as slaves
Jamestown, Virginia in 1619 as indentured servants.

The transformation from indentured servitude (servants contracted to work for a set amount of time) to racial slavery happened gradually. There are no laws regarding slavery early in Virginia's history. By 1640, the Virginia courts had sentenced at least one black servant to slavery.

Three servants working for a farmer named Hugh Gwyn ran away to Maryland. Two were white; one was black. They were captured in Maryland and returned to Jamestown, where the court sentenced all three to thirty lashes -- a severe punishment even by the standards of 17th century Virginia. The two white men were sentenced to an additional four years of servitude -- one more year for Gwyn followed by three more for the colony.

It was not until 1661 that a reference to slavery entered into Virginia law, and this law was directed at white servants -- at those who ran away with a black servant. The following year, the colony went one step further by stating that children born would be bonded or free according to the status of the mother.

Tons of Irish"served" in Indentured Servitude, especially women, in the North AND South.

Answer 9

I wish I had the information from my sister. Her husband s family were slaves and they have documentation. Maybe one day I can get a copy as I work in a school and find this information important.

Answer 10

Yes, because in the proclamation of slavery it clearly states: "If, for all fairness, their is to be a white holder of a colored person then shall we have a colored holder of a white slave." If you do not believe me, take your opinion and tell it to me so I know that you disagree.
P.S I am Indian