Slavery

The Dutch were the first group to use African slaves as a regular form of labour in the West Indies. They found them to be better workers and they were cheaper than white servants. The negros were better because of their robust stature and they worked harder than white servants. Slaves were considered to be personal property. They could be bought, sold, or inherited through family or given to a friend through their will.

The Slave Trade was primarily a three point trade. • Merchants traded or sold goods for slaves • Merchants then sold or traded the slaves for other goods in America and the West Indies • The goods were then sold by the Merchants in the European markets

Once slavery was abolished in the Dutch Colonies in the 1600’s, the people who lived there reacted with mixed attitudes. Many were still not comfortable with Africans living amongst them and having jobs. In people’s minds negros were still savages with no real intelligence. Others in society were good friends with the African ex-slaves and free immigrates. They believed that they were equals and treated them so.