Captive Workers

The Nation Robbing An Indian Chief of His Wife, courtesy www.johnhorse.com

The slave trade was not confined to Africans in the early history of the U.S. In the 1700s, for instance, the Cherokee raided other tribal territories and carried off prisoners who became their slaves. When they did not retain slaves for themselves, they sold them to traders.

In 1713, the South Carolina Assembly asked the Cherokee for help in conflicts with the Tuscaroras. Cherokee warriors obliged, and captured or killed about 1,000 of their enemy. Their captives were later sold at the auction block.

Colonial Slave Market

Women and children were far more likely to be captured and held as slaves than men, who were more apt to be killed in battle. Sometimes a woman or child would be ransomed back to freedom, but this was not typical. At least 2,000 Indians were slaves in South Carolina during colonial times.