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The System Of Institutionalized Slavery During The Virginia And South Carolina Colonies

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The system of institutionalized slavery in the Virginia and South Carolina colonies is the marker point in history of the fearsome dissemination of racial and class stratification. Through the events and laws leading up to the 1760s, Virginia and South Carolina pave the way towards formation of our modern day concepts of "race" and "class". Daniel Noel, creator of the Noel hypothesis, identified the inevitability of racial stratification given that three requirements: ethnocentrism, competition, and a difference in power. The enslavement of Africans during the 1600-1700 's is a prime example of what happens when all three requirements are fulfilled. Slavery of course did exist before its institutionalization in the colonial era. Before the Native Americans and Africans, there were still indentured servants and people who fell victim to power struggles and war. However, the significance and what separates the colonists ' slaves from the indentured servants is the factor of race. Never before had racial stratification been so prevalent and widespread until the arrival of African servants and slaves. Unlike the white indentured servants who were of the same land and culture as their masters, the colonial slaves were completely different from the Europeans in terms of culture, race, language, and homeland. Their darker skin color and appearances were easy to discern them from the colonists, and they did not understand the language and culture. African 's physical appearances

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