Labor in Rhode Island - By the Numbers
- On a per capital basis, Rhode Islanders own more slaves than any other New England colony.
- We mount sea voyages to Africa on a regular basis that ensure us a plentiful supply of slaves.
- However, our ships have only carried 1 percent of all the slaves that have been transported to North America. This is because slave trading is bigger business in the Caribbean, South America and the other colonies.
- In 1652, Rhode Island passed a law abolishing African slavery. Under this law, “black mankinde” could not be indentured for more than ten years.
- The law has never been enforced and the demand for cheap labor prevails.
- Rhode Island prospers under the slave trade by distilling rum to sell in Africa. Rhode Island plays a role in the profitable triangular trade route in slaves and sugar with the Caribbean