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William Byrd II’s Virginia

William Byrd II’s Virginia. Race Slavery Intensifies. African Arrivals. 1680-1690 2,000 slaves arrive in VA 1690-1695 1,000 slaves 1695-1700 more slave purchased than in previous 20 years 1700-10 ~ 8,000 slaves 1700 90% of Africans born in Africa. Africans in VA.

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William Byrd II’s Virginia

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  1. William Byrd II’s Virginia Race Slavery Intensifies

  2. African Arrivals • 1680-1690 2,000 slaves arrive in VA • 1690-1695 1,000 slaves • 1695-1700 more slave purchased than in previous 20 years • 1700-10 ~ 8,000 slaves • 1700 90% of Africans born in Africa

  3. Africans in VA • 1720 max 25% of population is African • 1740 ~ 40% of population • ½ of slaves from 1683-1721 came from Senegambia • Male:Female ratio of 2:1 • Forced into new lifestyle Most slaves in VA arrive from Senegambia

  4. Africans in VA “I name’d them here & by their names we can always know what sizes they are of & I am sure we repeated them so often to them that every one of them knew their names & would readily answer to them.” Robert “King” Carter – 1727 On how to “Virginia-ize” new arrivals from Africa

  5. Free Africans • Free African population reaches 4% by 1750 • Female-centered • Parentage of child • Periodic assaults on liberties

  6. Free African Males • Precarious existence • exposed to legal attack • Economic opportunities abrogated • Unable to vote, hold office, testify vs. whites Anthony, a negro becomes Anthony Johnson

  7. Free Black Women • 1691 Child of interracial union serves until 30 years of age • Mother’s status determines child’s • Free Black “population clusters” • Mainly in or near towns

  8. Free Africans • 1705 Definition of a mulatto • “Child of Indian or child, grand or great grand of Negro” • Shows that “blackness” is more significant than “whiteness” • Desirability of “whiteness” • Free blacks gain some legal protections • Black female slaves not titheable (lasts till 1723)

  9. Free Africans Rights • Varying legal protections • 1705 allows some increased rights • Constant fear of rebellion • 1709 slave plot • Confessions obtained by coercion & entrapment • Informant gains freedom • 1722 slave unrest in VA • 1723 restrictive laws • Free African women now titheable, wife of black man is titheable • Freedom to assemble limited • Slaves unable to travel without a pass

  10. Free Africans [The] design, which I must think a good one, [is] to make the free Negros sensible that a distinction ought to be make between their offspring and the Descendants of an Englishman, with whom they never were to be accounted Equal. This, I confess, may seem to carry an air of Severity to tsuch as are unacquainted with the Nature of Negros, and the Pride of a manumitted slave, who looks on himself immediately on his acquiring his freedom to be as good a man as the best of his Neighbours, but especially if he is descended of a white Fater or Mother, lett them be of what mean Condition soever; and as most of them are the Bastards of some of the worst of our imported servants and convicts, it seems no ways Impolitick, as such for discouraging that kind of Copulation, as to preserve a decent Distinction between them and their Betters, to leave this mark on them, until time and Education has changed the Indication of their spurious Extraction, and made some Alteration in their morals. Governor Gooch - 1738

  11. Tobacco Crisis • 1697-1702 Speculative Bubble • prices rise from 1d. to 2 ½ per lb. • popularity

  12. Tobacco Crisis • Bursting bubble • War of Spanish Succession ends boom (1702) • collapse of credit and overseas markets • Longer term impact • French privateers and Dutch production • rise of snuff and flavoring • 1711 Customs demand immediate tobacco tax payment

  13. Governor Spotswood • Economic Constraints • limited funds b/c of poor tobacco prices • 1712 Tuscarora War • alliance and defense - cheap and friendly • Assembly praises but won’t pay • Assembly demands all out war £ 20,000 • raised by import duties on British goods • War ends 1713 • returns £ 700 of the £ 1000 raised

  14. Governor Spotswood • 1717 “Blackbeard” • Edward Teach off the Atlantic coast • shuts down all trade • North Carolina unable to stop Blackbeard • his alliance with the N. Carolina Governor • 1718 Spotswood orders assault • 2 sloops with shallow draft to approach hideout • boarding of vessels and Blackbeard’s death • N. Carolina protests

  15. Governor Spotswood • Patronage • Governor has little influence • Local Virginian control over offices • English leaders appoint to Virginia • 1713 Tobacco Inspection • creates 40 inspectorships worth £ 250 a year • 29 Burgesses (& 4 close relatives) gain these positions Tobacco Curing Shed

  16. Governor Spotswood • Indian defense • alliance vs. Tuscarora • send children to William & Mary for education • replace Virginians as southern defenders • save ⅓on defense - makes friends • Virginia Indian Company • monopoly on trade with Indians • provide for cost of Indian military supplies • Death of Queen Anne • Mandatory new elections • Council tries to destroy all programs

  17. Governor Spotswood-or-How to make friends and influence others... “as I question whether you have truly Considered what you have been doing, I will Spare you the Confusion of telling your own Actions.” “The Chairman of two standing committees could not Spell English or Write Common Sense.” “Tis Strange that you have not been able to fall upon any Just Measures to Redress the mighty Grievances you came fraughted with.”

  18. Governor Spotswood • Yamasee War • assists South Carolina 1715 • pushed to within 30 miles of Charleston

  19. William Byrd II • England • Education • Connection to power struggles • Civilized Virginia and culture • Secret Diary

  20. William Byrd II • Surveyor • VA/NC border • Richmond Westover – Byrd residence

  21. Byrd Family Tree

  22. William Byrd II • Family • Patriarchal power The Tragic Evelyn Byrd

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