Where Historians Disagree: The Origins Of Slavery

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Pages: 2

Slavery was established in America for various reasons. Some believe racism led to the subjection of Africans, while others think economic motives developed slavery. In the passage, “Where Historians Disagree: The Origins of Slavery,” five historians make interpretations based on the facts provided. In an economic perspective, the need for a large labor force to cultivate staple crops like rice and tobacco was in high demand. Unlike Natives Americans, Africans had a strong immune system and further knew how to cultivate agricultural crops better. Between the 17 and 18 centuries, because Europe was in high demand for goods, like sugar and tobacco, more slaves were bought and prices fell, thus, plantations grew, and profits increased with cheap