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In Chapter 6 of Inhuman Bondage, Davis attempted to demonstrate how African slavery differed from region to region in the New World. He explored the origins and development of slavery in the northern, Chesapeake, and southern colonies.

Slavery initially generated significant resistance in the northern colonies.  Davis cited a clash between slavery and religious ideology, particularly from the Puritans and Quakers.  While antislavery sentiments existed in the English settlements in the north, the Dutch lacked the white labor supported by an influx of immigrants, and therefore looked to Africa for slavery from an early stage.  Davis conveyed that although the northern colonies had low percentages of slave populations, a significantly greater percentage of labor came from African slaves.  However, Davis’s central theme pertaining to the North was that although slavery existed, the North did not rely on slave labor like its southern counterparts.

Davis depicted a chronic progression of slavery and racial relations in the Chesapeake region.  Initially, Africans experienced a form of servitude very similar to white laborers.  However, as the proportion of white servants declined, African slavery increased at a remarkable rate, and racial distinction became more prevalent.  Davis noted the distinguishing factor of Virginia slavery consisted of the dramatic natural increase in slave population.  While this growth benefitted planters economically, the resulting fear among whites had a tremendous social and political impact.  Essentially, whites of different status began to unify over race in resistance to the growing black population.  Davis then cited an Edmund S. Morgan argument claiming that racism played a vital role in forming republican ideology in America.

The South featured a totally unique brand of slavery.  At the outset, slaves experienced more freedom and equality, as Davis mentioned a source that implied blacks possessed the ability to vote at one point.  The South, expressed vividly by South Carolina, relied heavily upon slave labor.  In fact, slave population significantly outnumbered white population in the region, resulting in more social and cultural unity among slaves than in any other colonial region.  However, slaveowners, particularly in South Carolina following the Stono Rebellion, subjected their slaves to extremely harsh treatment.

Davis pointed out a key characteristic regarding North American slavery.  With the exception of South Carolina, no colonies formed with the intent of exploiting slave labor.  It appeared to be a gradual and fairly universal movement in the colonies.  While the slavery differed among the colonies, several important and somewhat surprising similarities existed.  For example, contrary to my prior knowledge, colonists used slaves in a variety of ways and a hierarchy formed among slaves.

My least favorite aspect of Davis’s style was the lack of organization within the chapter.  While he divided it regionally, I think he could have done a clearer job of breaking up the chapter.  In addition, I found it a little confusing as he jumped from one topic to another within a region.