CH. 3 Culture Flashcards
What is commonly misunderstood about most of the first Africans that arrived on ships?
weren’t completely newly exposed to white Europeans
- most of first slaves were Atlantic Creoles (had knowledge of Atlantic trade + Euro languages + cultures)
- some used this cultural knowledge to their advantage to fit more into Euro society
- would have much easier adjustment to Euro rule than the Africans to come
(MSW)
How did the slave pop. change following the early 18th century?
No longer dominated by Atlantic creoles
- now “outlandish” Africans made up majority (directly from Africa)
- would have hard time adjusting to new life on new land
(NW)
What had become common among blacks by the 1770s?
most Africans Americans on mainland lived in extended family tie dwellings
- were practicing own unique African American culture
- set the basis for black life in America
(WS)
How were the early adjustments like for newly arrived slaves from Africa?
the hardest (adaptation came slowly)
- tended to cling to own cultural traditions + ways of doing things
- included sense of personal identity + own religion/language + social customs/traditions
- slaves came from variety of places across West Africa (brought w/ them variety of customs)
- relatively few of them could join w/ others + practice group survival on basis of common heritage
- still most Africans held in common enough ideas they could intermingle certain aspects of their cultures
(TISRS)
How did the early intermingling of different African cultures begin?
on slave ships soon after capture
- amalgamation continued once they arrived on the colonies
- process of clinging to certain traditions + borrowing heavily from Euros/Natives birthed hybrid black culture
(AP)
What determined the rate of acculturation of newly arrived African individuals?
- local circumstances
- strength of their particular African traditions
- personal willingness to change
(LSP)
What determined the rate of acculturation of newly arrived African groups?
process varied b/c individual survival didn’t require formation of a group culture
What single process dominates consideration of the development of African American culture in colonial America?
blacks in US first had to have deep social contact w/ substantial # of other blacks before group values/beliefs could develop
- they had to exist in black communities
What was the conduit for passing down these early manifestations of black culture?
the black family
- adults teach their children values considered important for survival/good living
How important were family relationships to first generation arrivals?
very important
- vital for cultural formation + transmission
- family for first gen. arrivals didn’t always include only blood relation/marriage people
- Euro law defined family as only blood relation/by marriage
(VFE)
What were some of the obstacles to African American community development + family formation in the first century of slavery (demography)?
simple demographic considerations affected social relations
- # of blacks apportioned to whites determined by nature of economy + slave trade in a region
- individuals also required certain amount of freedom to interact outside supervision of whites
(NI)
What were some of the obstacles to African American community development + family formation in the first century of slavery (proximity)?
proximity to white colonists
- in many places blacks interacted daily w/ whites (both in North/South colonies)
- even the wealthiest masters spent hours w/ slaves in Chesapeake colonies
- African slaves w/ close relationships w/ whites learned English + practiced Euro-American customs quicker than others
- those working w/ a lot of blacks + fewer whites in more isolated areas had more extensive social relations w/ themselves
- retained African customs better as well (acculturation to anglo-American norm not as fast)
(IEATR)
How did the difference between slaves born in Africa vs those born in America affect African American cultural development?
- those born in Africa tended to keep to themselves more/retain more of their African customs
- areas w/ more Atlantic creoles/American born blacks had more unity among partly acculturated black pop.
- had less adherence to unadulterated African customs
(TAH)
How did demographics and the slave trade play a role in the ability of the black pop. to naturally inc. + maintain families?
as long as Atlantic trade was bringing high #s to particular region black men continued to outpace women there
- masters knew they could more cheaply purchase/train male laborer than rear one domestically
- owners in these regions often did little to encourage marriage + procreation + family life among slaves
- worked women as hard as men + allowed minimal time off for bearing children
(MOW)
How did disease keep the slave pop. between men/women unbalanced?
slaves died out quickly in new world due to disease
- w/ replacements coming so cheaply many owners began caring little for slave livelihood
- when slave trade was high mortality rate was too + birth rate was low
- made slave society unable to replace its #s naturally
(WWM)
What effect did the uneven pop. between black men/women imports have on black families?
w/ more men than women + interracial marriage illegal it was impossible for most slaves to have normal family life
- few males black or white able to marry due to unequal sex ratios + high mortality rates
- once slave trade from Africa declined slave pop. began to balance out + family life emerged
(FO)
How did different working + living circumstances in the colonies affect the development of black culture?
- slaves living on isolated plantations had less contact w/ anglo culture
- slaves that lived in small farms had more contact w/ anglo culture going to market to sell crops
- plantation slaves working under task system had more control over lives than those working under watchful eyes
- degree of autonomy under task system allowed them to hold onto more of their African culture
(SSPD)
What happened to isolated plantations over time?
in certain regions plantation life grew settled + slaves enjoyed mobility among plantations
- once this happened even black communities centered on one plantation could broaden to include others
What was the difference between urban vs rural slaves?
urban slaves generally had greater autonomy than rural slaves
- urban slaves lived closer to whites + some permitted to attain skills/live on their own/hire their own time
- urban blacks mingled w/ whites at work + play (lax urban working requirements led to less control measures)
- acculturation took place regularly in urban environments
(UUA)
What were some unique circumstances some blacks faced that affected the development of black culture?
African Americans working as seamen
- worked river crafts that carried goods + served on civilian/military ships at sea by the 1740s
- some had Atlantic creole heritage (most accustomed to whites but proud of own cultural traditions)
(WS)
How did black culture develop in the Chesapeake region?
for first 75 yrs MD/VA planters made distinctions more on basis of race
- Chesapeake blacks (mostly Atlantic Creoles) suffered same hardships at white laborers
- some of each group that lived long enough attained freedom + acquired land
- blacks interacted w/ whites of their class in work/play but more open racial society didn't last (CSB)
What events after 1680 halted the rapid acculturation in the Chesapeake region between whites/blacks?
importation of large # of Africans
- by 1710 3/4 of Chesapeake blacks were African (mostly men)
- sexual imbalance made opportunities for black family life difficult (led to cutting of birth rates)
- VA planters often sent new arrivals to Piedmont frontier (isolated from tidewater + most creoles)
- smaller # of creoles enjoyed greater freedoms from their masters
- through 1740s distinct African + creole slave societal difference emerged in Chesapeake
(BSVST)
What made the African-creole split short lived in the Chesapeake colonies?
in response to growing # of blacks planters in region formed unity w/ lower class whites
- lumped all blacks together which stifled creole opportunities
What began happening in the late 1740s Chesapeake colonies?
slave trade declined to the Chesapeake
- saw long period of natural pop. inc. for blacks
- blacks born in America soon predominated
- at same time planters brought more slaves on larger plantations + turned over some ares to wheat production
- gave blacks seasonal variety in their work + opportunities to learn new skills + make broader contacts
- this + development of road network allowed blacks from different plantations to interact
- eventually black families w/ links going back generations existed
(SBAGTE)
