1638 - 1775 | From almost the moment Rhode Island was founded, indigenous war captives worked for the colony's earliest settlers without pay.  Then, in the 18th century, Rhode Island's relationship with slavery deepened when it began playing a dominant role in the American slave trade.

My Favorite Books on this Topic:

Brethren by Nature: New England Indians, Colonists, and the Origins of American Slavery by Margaret Ellen Newell

Dark Work: The Business of Slavery in Rhode Island by Christy Clark-Pujara

*Map image from Rhode Island Boundaries by John H Cady.

To learn more about this episode go to The Story of Rhode Island website