The Jesuits (Society of Jesus) were among the largest Christian slaveholders in the Americas, using enslaved African labor to finance their missions, schools, and churches. Their involvement in slavery spanned Brazil, the Caribbean, and the United States, lasting from the 16th century until the 19th century.
Why Did the Jesuits Own Slaves?
- Economic Necessity: The Jesuits argued that slave labor was needed to fund their missionary and educational work.
- Colonial Acceptance: Slavery was legal and normalized in Catholic colonies (Spanish, Portuguese, and French).
- “Civilizing” Justification: They claimed that enslaving Africans allowed them to “Christianize” them.
2. Key Jesuit Slaveholding Regions**
A. Brazil (16th–18th Centuries)
- The Jesuits were the second-largest slaveholders in colonial Brazil (after Portuguese settlers).
- Their sugar plantations and cattle ranches in Bahia, Maranhão, and Rio de Janeiro relied on hundreds of enslaved Africans.
- Expulsion (1759): Portugal’s Prime Minister, the Marquis of Pombal, expelled the Jesuits from Brazil, partly due to their economic power (including slave wealth).
B. Maryland & the United States (18th–19th Centuries)**
- The Jesuits owned tobacco plantations in Maryland, including:
- St. Inigoes (300+ enslaved people)
- Newtown Manor
- White Marsh
- Georgetown University (founded 1789) was funded by Jesuit slave labor.
- 1838 Slave Sale: To pay off debts, the Maryland Jesuits sold 272 enslaved people to Louisiana plantations, separating families. (Georgetown later apologized in 2017.)
C. Caribbean (17th–18th Centuries)
- In Martinique, the Jesuits owned sugar plantations with over 1,000 slaves.
- After France suppressed the Jesuits (1763), their slaves were confiscated.
3. Jesuit Defenses & Contradictions
- “Benign” Slavery Myth: Some Jesuits claimed they treated slaves “better” than secular masters.
- Religious Instruction: Enslaved people were baptized and given Catholic teachings, but still forced to work.
- Resistance: Enslaved Africans on Jesuit plantations rebelled and escaped, like in the Bahia Revolts (Brazil).
4. When Did the Jesuits Stop Owning Slaves?
- Brazil (1759): Lost slaves when expelled by Portugal.
- U.S. (1838): Sold their slaves but continued opposing abolition until the Civil War.
- Vatican Condemnation (1839): Pope Gregory XVI’s In Supremo criticized the slave trade, but enforcement was weak.
5. Modern Reckoning & Reparations
- Georgetown University now offers descendant scholarships and renamed buildings after enslaved people.
- The Jesuits pledged $100 million in 2021 to compensate descendants of their slaves.
- Brazilian & Caribbean Churches have acknowledged but not fully atoned for their past.
Conclusion: A Complicated Legacy
The Jesuits were both missionaries and exploiters—preaching salvation while profiting from slavery. Their history shows how deeply slavery was tied to religious institutions in the colonial world.