The Role of Slave Labor in the Southern States Agriculturism during 1820-1890
SURIANATA, Dr. Djuhertati Imam muhni, MA
2002 | Tesis | S2 Pengkajian AmerikaNegara bagian selatan Amerika sefikat terkenal dengan daerah pertaniannya. Ketika pertama kali penduduk barn dari lnggris menempati d a d ini pada tahun 1607, tidak ada tdintas dalam pikiran mereka untuk mendirikan suatu masyarakat dan perekonomian berdasarkan perbudakan. Orang-orang kulit hitam secara legal dijadikan budak pada tahun 1700 di Virginia dan Maryland, kernudian pada tahun 1720 di Carolina selatan. Selanjutnya seem resmi mereka dianggap sebagai property yang bisa diperjual-belikan. Dengan daya tarik penanian yang sangat menguntungkan dan meningkatnya permintam dunia akan kapas serta seiring dengan cepatnya pertumbuhan industri, sehinga perbudakan merupakan sarana vital kedua disamping kesuburan tanahnya. Orang-orang seiatan Amerika Serikat pada s a t itu berpendapat bahwa mereka tidak mernpunyai pilihan lain kecuali tergantung pada budak. Alasan utama mereka adalah bahwa secara fisik orang Negro lebih kuat, kebal terhadap malaria, tahan terhadap cuaca panas serta iebih mengetahui cara bertani jika dibandingkan dengan master mereka. Studi ini bertujuan untuk menggambarkan sejauh mana peranan hudak ini di bidang pertanian di selatan Amerika Serikat %lama 1820 - 1860. Hal ini perlu dianalisis karena support mereka terhadap pertumbuhan ekonorni negara bagian selatan yang telah mempekerjakan kurang lebih 4.500.000 budak. Selain itu studi ini juga ingin mengungkapkan pengaruh perbudakan terhadap ekonomi, sosial, politik, dan budaya. Perbudakan merupakan kunci atas usaha yang terkonsentrasi pada kapas dalam skala yang amat luas. Bunih budak ini telah memberikan kontribusi yang amat besar terhadap kekapaan pemiliknya, kekayaan negara, serta perekonomian seluruh negara bagian selatan Amerika Serikat, namun Sdydneyd mereka kehiiangdn kesempdtdn dan kebebdsan S e P d ydng dinikmati oleh seluruh warga Amerika.
The South was noted for its agriculture. When the first English colonist settkd there in 1607, they did not have in mind establishing an economy and society based on slavery. Negroes legally became slaves by 1700 in Virginia and Maryland and 1720 in South Carolina and accordingly they were defined legally as property to be bought and sold. Attracted by benefit of f m i n g and due to the rapid growth of industries, slavery was the second viai means, the first being fertile lands. In the 19* century, the vast majority of slaves w e employed in the plantation cultivation of cotton. There was a special link between southern plantation agriculture and slavery. Without the world's demand and the dramatic appearance of cotton, slavery might have become unviable. Slavery permitted the rapid expansion of the highest income sector of economy. Southerners were of the opinion that they had no other choice but depended on slavery. The main reasons were that Negroes physically strong, immune to malaria, could bear the heat of the weather and also that they knew the techniques of planting certain crops better than their masters. This study is aimed at describing the role of slave labors in the southern states agriculture during 1820-1860, and it is also intended to sive a complete description of slave labors in the southern states plantation. These slaves are necessary to be analyzed because they supported the southern states economic growth and these states employed approximately 4.500.000 slave labors. This study also reveals the impacts of slavery on economy, social matters, politics and culture. Slavery was the key to large scale operations concentrated on cotton. Slaves made enormously valuable contribution to the wealth of their owners, to the wealth of the southern states economy, and slavery was the first rock of the modem economic building but the slaves were deprived of the opportunities and freedoms enjoyed by other Americans.
Kata Kunci : Amerika Serikat,Perbudakan 1820,1860,Pertumbuhan Ekonomi, Slavery, Agriculture, Economic Growth
