- Dependence on enslaved Africans: With a significant portion of the American workforce reliant on enslaved Africans to generate significant economic returns, these individuals often had minimal protection under the law.
- Legal disenfranchisement: In many instances, legal limitations and restrictions prevented enslaved individuals from exercising basic civil rights, including voting, holding public office, and even testifying in court against white individuals.
- Social ostracism: Enslaved individuals were subjected to social ostracism, which reinforced their marginalized status and made upward social mobility virtually impossible.
- Degradation and dehumanization: The practice of slavery relied heavily on the denigration of enslaved individuals to justify the conditions they endured, further eroding their perception as valuable members of society.
- Family disruption: The plantation system often led to the destruction of African family structures. Families were separated as enslaved individuals were bought, sold, and moved to different locations.
Lack of indentured servants:
- Permanent status: Unlike indentured servants, whose term of servitude would eventually come to an end, Africans were forced into perpetual slavery, with little hope of emancipation or freedom.
- Increased value of enslaved individuals: As indentured servitude waned, the demand for enslaved Africans became more competitive, contributing to their escalating market value. This elevated economic incentive further perpetuated their status as a valuable commodity rather than individuals deserving of basic human rights.