What you will need to complete the assignment:

• Wright, D.R. (2009). African Americans in the Colonial Era: From African Origins through the American Revolution.

• Rampolla, M.L. (2015). A Pocket Guide to Writing in History. (8th Edition). Boston, MA: Bedford/St. Marten’s. READ CHAPTER 2, PAGES 8-17.

Assignment: Read the following colonial laws. In an essay of 350-500 words, typed, and double-spaced, explain how these laws help solidify slavery as a racial institution and sanctioned racial discrimination against people of African descent. Support you analysis with secondary source material from Wright.

Virginia, 1639
Act X. All persons except Negroes are to be provided with arms and ammunitions or be fined at the pleasure of the governor and council.

Maryland, 1664
That whatsoever free-born [English] woman shall intermarry with any slave. . . shall serve the master of such slave during the life of her husband; and that all the issue of such free-born women, so married shall be slaves as their fathers were.

Virginia, 1667
Act III. Whereas some doubts have arisen whether children that are slaves by birth. . . should by virtue of their baptism be made free, it is enacted that baptism does not alter the condition to the person as to his bondage or freedom; masters freed from this doubt may more carefully propagate Christianity by permitting slaves to be admitted to that sacrament.

Virginia, 1682
 Act I. It is enacted that all servants. . . which [sic] shall be imported into this country either by sea or by land, whether Negroes, Moors [Muslim North Africans], mulattoes or Indians who and whose parentage and native countries are not Christian at the time of their first purchase by some Christian. . . and all Indians, which shall be sold by our neighboring Indians, or any other trafficking with us for slaves, are hereby adjudged, deemed and taken to be slaves to all intents and purposes any law, usage, or custom to the contrary notwithstanding.