by what year was american slavery unequivocally based upon the color of one's skin?

Question

choose one of this options
a)1690
b)1680
c)1740
d)1700
e)1730

Answer 1

It was ALWAYS based on one peoples' ability to capture and subdue another people. Period.

Answer 2

I really don't think any of those years are correct.

There was a deal of sexual activity between white men and slave women--Sally Hemings, the mistress of Thomas Jefferson, was actually the half-sister of his wife, and some have suggested that she may have resembled Martha Wayles Jefferson. This may have played a part in his attraction to her.

In other cases, there were slaves who were the end result of
generations of white masters fathering children on slave mothers, who may have been only 1/16th or less black, who even looked as white as any of the master's children borne to him by his wife, but were still held as slaves anyway. It wasn't uncommon for them to be sold because of the bitter feelings of their owners' families--some of whom may well have been their half-siblings.

Some slaves were able to use this coloring to their advantage--there was a very light-skinned slave woman who dressed as a man and escaped to the north with her husband, who posed as her slave. They made it all the way from Georgia to Philadelphia using this strategy (and add extra credit for cleverness to their courage), and I believe ultimately settled in Boston.

So, for the reasons cited, I don't think slavery was ever completely a question of skin color. I will concede, however, that the darker the complexion, the more difficult it was to escape.

No matter how one looks at it, to be a slave was no day at the beach for anyone, regardless of his or her skin tone.

Answer 3

I would say 1680. I know it occurred, when a ship carrying slaves docked in some New England port. They had no money to buy supplies to go back to Europe, so they traded those slaves for supplies, thus started the slave trade in America. The first Africans to come here were indentured servants who served their 7 years or so and eventually got their freedom.

Answer 4

Come on, it's multiple choice. It should be pretty simple to look it up in your text book or just Google it. Homework is about researching and finding the answers for yourself, not posting it on Yahoo Answers and hoping someone else will do it for you.