The
Journey Was Difficult |
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| During the 18th and
into the 19th century, immigrants who finally planted their feet on American soil were
lucky to have survived the perils of the voyage. Anxious to encourage settlement of the
West, agents promoted immigration to greedy ship lines who then packed as many travelers
as they could on each boat. Prior to 1848, not only would immigrants have to load their own belongings, but families would be required to bring along food for the voyage. There was no one to advise the immigrants as to whether or not these rations would be adequate for the trip. In the days of sailing ships, crossing the Atlantic Ocean was a slow and frequently dangerous experience. The overcrowded boats were at the mercy of the ocean and the weather, dependent upon the wind belts for propulsion. On a calm sea with little wind, the sails would hang useless and a trip across the ocean could take on average from one to three months. Even wealthier passengers suffered when the sea conditions were rough, and generally traveled in overcrowded conditions. The ‘first class’ cabins were small, cramped, narrow and dark but were elegant compared to where the poorer emigrants stayed. They were literally packed together in a dark part of the vessel, with meager food rations and little room to move. The transportation of African-Americans hit a ‘boom’ period after 1660 when the plantation system in South Carolina, Virginia and Maryland created a demand for service labor. By 1740, the slavery system in colonial America was fully developed. Considered to be "chattel...in the hands of their owners and possessors..." blacks suffered greatly on the journey, coming over on vessels of one to two hundred tons that carried 400 to 500 people, as well as the crew and the provisions. Men, women and children of all ages were transported, enduring very harsh traveling conditions, starvation rations and captivity. [Back] [Next] [Up] [New Search] 'Immigration' segment written
in November, 1997 |
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