This is an automated transcription. Mount Vernon cannot guarantee the accuracy or quality of the transcription. If you would like to provide a better transcription you can submit one at: http://www.mountvernon.org/video/send-us-your-transcription/ institution of slavery dates back to antiquity it arrived in the Americas with a european colonists in Virginia for tobacco was a colonies primary cash crop slavery took root as early as the 17th century by the early 18th century the system flourished and thousands of enslaved Africans were sold each year to labor in the tobacco fields as well as to serve the homes of the colonies elite the system of slavery that develop in the American colonies was known as chattel slavery whereby a slave was the absolute legal property of its owner George Washington was born into a family and a society that accepted the idea of slave labor although not at the highest level of that society washington's family was still a member of the elite landed tobacco culture society which was dependent upon the labor of slaves Washington became a slave owner at the age of 11 when his father Augustine died leading young George 10 slaves in 1754 Washington began leasing Mount Vernon from the window of his older half-brother lawrence he inherited the estate outright upon her death in 1761 Mount Vernon was comprised of approximately 2,000 acres and 14 slaves in 1759 Washington married the wealthy widow Martha Dandridge Custis the marriage brought him an instant family has two children by her first husband Daniel Parke Custis as well as one-third of all customs property including an additional 80 for slaves these slaves were referred to as dour slaves because get your customs died without a Will Virginia law one-third of his property went to his win over the duration of her life but with certain restrictions Martha Washington could not free those slaves any she sold them the monies raised would revert to the Custis estate furthermore our slaves and any children born to female dour slaves would revert to the customs estate upon her death eleven of the tower slaves came to Mount Vernon with the newly married mrs. Washington in 1759 bringing the estate's enslaved population to approximately 50 the period at 17:59 to 1775 was a time of tremendous growth in Mount Vernon Washington expanded his land holdings switch from tobacco to weed as cash crop and open emerge until the slave population grew through purchase a natural increase the late seventeen seventies vs putting our family Washington stop selling slaves without their permission by $17.99 the year of Washington's death Mount Vernon had grown to 8,000 acres divided into five farms living on the estate were about three hundred forty men women and children which included the six members of washington's immediate family and higher white workers such as overseers are managers Miller's housekeeper the remaining 360 waves 123 remount Vernon slaves 153 word our slaves and 40 were rented slaves