Slavery was a practice in many countries in the 17th and 18th centuries, but its effects in
human history was unique to the United States. Many factors played a part in the existence
of slavery in colonial America; the most noticeable was the effect that it had on the
personal and financial growth of the people and the nation. Capitalism, individualism and
racism were the utmost noticeable factors during this most controversial period in
American history. Other factors, although less discussed throughout history, also
contributed to the economic rise of early American economy, such as, plantationism and
urbanization. Individually, these factors led to an enormous economic growth for the early
American colonies, but collectively, it left a social gap that we are still trying to bridge
today.
Capitalism has always been a double edge sword for the United States. It began as the
driving force in pushing along economic growth, but it came at the price of the African
society. It was implied, and enforced, that Africans were of a lesser class through the
means in which they were “used” by the slave owners to promote their wealth and stature.
The larger their plantation, the wealthier and more successful people were seen. But in
order to do this, the plantation owners needed workers, but if they had to pay workers
reasonable wages, they could not yield a profit. Also, in the South, it was hard, rough work
in the hot sun and very few whites were willing to do the work, therefore, most plantation
