AstheslavepopulationintheUnitedStatesofAmericagrewto500,000in1176,documenting slaveryaspartoftheAmericanRevolutionbecameincreasinglyimportant.Americawasrootedin slavery;anditcontributedtotheeconomyandsocialstructureTherevolutionforcedcitizensofthe newnationtobeconsciousofslaveryanditspotentialdismissalfromeverydaylife.Twoarticles thatproveslaveryonlysucceededbecauseofthefalserealitythatslaveownerscreatedandthe conformitytothisrealitybyslavesare;GeorgeFitzhughwhodefendstheproslaveryargumentand FrederickDouglasswhosupportsadesireforfreedom.Thehistoryofabolitiondirectlyrelatesto themanyobstaclesAmericansfacedwhentryingtochangeshowmorecontent
Inastateofindependencethereismorejealousyandhostilitytowardsoneanother.Thereareno mobs,tradeunions,strikesforincreaseinwages,armedresistancetolaw,jealousyofrichbythe poor,fewpeopleinjailandfewerpeopleinpoorhousesGeorgeFitzhughtookaveryradical approachinmakingtheargumentforproslavery,heisclearwithhispointandneveronceagreedor suggestedpositivepointsaboutemancipation.WhencomparingtheNorthandtheSouthhestates thatwealthisbetterdistributedinthesouthwhereslavesareabundantthanintheNorth.Healludes tothefactthateconomiesinFrance,England,andNewEnglandalwayskeepfamineclosebecause itleavesnoroomto"retrench"WhereasintheSouththeyhaveawastefulmodeoflivingwhichin resultleavesroomforretrenchment.GeorgeFitzhughfailstorecognizethefactthattheone's enslavedhavebeenconfinedandforcedintoasystemoflivingthattheyknownobetterthan.They weretakenfromtheirhomesandforcedtoworkforanownerwhocouldn'trecognizethattheywere individualswhowouldonedayrealizethetruerealityofthesituationtheywereforcedinto.Heis takingasidethatonlyfocusesonthewantandbeliefoftheslave–ownerwithoutaccountingforthe actualslaves.Thisbeingthekeyinthe"sociologyoftheSouth",theyweresoentrenchedintheidea thatslaveswerethekeytoasuccessfuleconomythat
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Whenitcomestosomeimportanteventsbefore19thcenturyinUnitedStates,wemustmentionthe AbolitionMovement,whichbeganin1930s,andendedwithEmancipationProclamation.Justlike ourtextbook–––AShortHistoryoftheAmericanNation,¡°Noreformmovementofthiserawas moresignificant,moreambiguousincharacter,ormoreprovocativeoflaterhistoricalinvestigation thanthedrivetoabolishslavery¡±
AbolitionMovementwasnotonlymeaningfultoitself,thatis,slaverywasabolishedandblack slaveswerefreed,butalsomeaningfultothewholenation,becauseitexertedmuchinfluenceson AmericansocietyandeconomyInthispaper,Iwillfirstlypresentabriefintroductionaboutslaves inNorthAmerican.Secondly,...showmorecontent...
Itseemedthatslaverydevelopedverywellinsouth,andsouthernerswantedtokeepit,butitcould nottosaythatallclassesinAmericahadthesameideasassoutherners,suchasblacksand northerners.Wherethereisdisagreement,thereisconflict.Withthepaceofhistory,peoplewho foughtagainstslaverystartedtheAbolitionMovementFirstofall,let¡scometosocialconditions
Everyeventtakesplaceundersomecertainsociety.AbolitionMovementisnoexception.First,itis knownthatAmericapassedtheBillofRightsin1789,whichallowedAmericancitizenstohave democraticrights,butblacksandIndianswerenotincluded.Thisdocumentadmittedtheexistence ofslaveryinAmerica
Second,withthedevelopmentofbothnorthandsouth,thereweremoreandmoreconflictsbetween them,becausetheyhaddifferentsystems.Northwasofcapitalism,andsouthwasofplantation. Here,I¡dliketomentionthemostseriousevent,whichsharpenedtheconflictbetweensouthand north,thatis,theMissouriCompromise.Thiswasaheatedpoliticalbattlebetweenslaveownersof southandcapitalistsofnorth.ThefocusoftheirconflictwasMissourishouldbecomeaslavestate orafreestate.ThisissuerelatedtothebalanceofsouthandnorthinSenate,sobothsideswantedto bemorepowerful.
Thispoliticalconflict,risingfromtheestablishmentofMissouriState,wasthe
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SlaveryinAmerica Introduction
Therehasbeenmuchdebateonthetopicofslaveryintheearlytimes,althoughmostofthe countriesconsideredslaveryasacriminalactivitySomecountriessuchasMyanmarandSudando notabolishit.Theyevenexpeditetheslaverysystem.Itisnodoubtthatslaveryviolentthehuman rights.However,itwascommonlyspreadintheearlytimesfrom17thto19thcentury.Inthis research,Iwilltalkabouttheoriginoftheslavery,thereasonsforpeopletobecomingslaveandthe lifeoftheslave.
TheDefinitionofslavery
In1926,theSlaveryConventiondefinedslaveryas"...thestatusorconditionofapersonoverwhom anyorallofthepowersattachingtotherightofownershipareshowmorecontent
LargeamountoflandandlaborwererequiredintheTobaccoagriculture.Atfirst,theseworkers weremainlycomefromEnglanditselfandthepromiseoflandattractedmanyworkers.Later,the industryofTobaccospreadfromCaribbeantoVirginia.Asareason,colonistsspreadfromone colonytoanother.Atthattime,theDutchslavetradersenslavedAfricanstofilltheneedsoflabor. ThismodelwasfollowedbytheEnglishManyAfricansbecameslaveinvoluntarilyandthefirst AfricanslavesarrivedinmainlandNorthAmericainlateAugustof1619whenashipcarrying slavesfromAfricadockedinJamestown,Virginia.Theyweredifferentfromindenturedworkersby theirendlesstermofservice Inthemid–1660s,thelandlordsoftheVirginiainNorthAmericawantedtomakeprofitastheyhad alreadydoneinCaribbean.TheyattractedtheCaribbeanandtheEnglishworkerswiththefreedom ofreligiousandtheexpansionofrightsfortheEnglish.Atthesametime,theTobaccoagriculture playedanimportantroleintheeconomicofVirginia.Sincetheprofitwassoobservable,thesettlers acquiredlandbytakingthelandoftheNativeAmericanTheyrecruitedworkersfromEngland whichwasthelargepartoflaborinVirginiauntil1680s.
Bythe1710,Slaverysystemwaswellestablishedandwasacceptedbythelawinthe13colonies. SlaverywasanimportantpartofeconomicstructureuntilitwasabolishedinJune13,1774After theFreedomOrdinancein
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Throughouthistory,theAfricanpeoplehavealwaysstruggledwithsocietygoingagainstthemand theirhumanity.OnemainfocusofstudyisthetreatmentofAfricansintheAmericas.Itseemedto allhavestartedwhenAmericawasfirstfoundedinthe1600sandmanywhiteplantationownershad slavestransportedfromAfricatoworkontheirland,actasservants,orcropplants. SlaveryisaninhumaneformfreelaborAslaveisstrippedoftheirhumanrightsandtheyare usuallyrestrictedfromtheirownersfromhavinganeducationorevenjustsimplylearninghowto readorwrite.SlavesweretakenfromAfrica,forcedawayfromtheirfamiliesandputonextremely uncomfortablepositionsonships,likesardines,justasiftheywerejustashowmorecontent AfricanshavenothaditeasyinAmericabecauseofallthis.SlaveryisoneofAmerica'smost embarrassingtopicsinallhonestybecausetohavetohavepracticedthatisjustutterlydisgusting. Thishasgreatlyaffectedtheworldtodayandhowafricanamericansliveonadaytodaybasis.It hasnotbeeneasyforAfricanAmericansintheUnitedStates.Thecrazythingaboutitisthatitwas completelylegalintheUnitedStatesItwasnotuntiltheearly1800sthatanti–slaverybecamea thing.PeoplelikeFrederickDouglassandHarrietTubmanstartedtoriseagainstslavery.Many enslavedafricansweredirectedtofreedombecauseofamazingbravesouls,suchas,Harriet
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American'swholiveinthe21stcenturyknowthatslaveryisterribleandalsoatouchysubject.But Americansusedtorelyheavilyonslavery,howweperceiveslaveryintoday'ssocietycaneitherbe thesameordifferentfromhowothersthoughtofslaverylivingwithinmid1800s.Peoplewho residedinthenorthernregionofAmericanfoundslaverywrongaswedotoday.Americanswho livedfarthersouthhoweverliked,andreliedonslaveryIntoday'sworld,weAmericansalmostall agreethatslaveryhadbeenanegativefactorofourcountry.Butwithinthe1840sand1870s, Americanshadbeendividedbyslavery.Peoplethatwereagainstslaverycreatedtheunionasthe proslaverycitizenscreatedtheconfederatesToday,wecanseewhypeopleofthemid19thcentury eithersupportedslaveryorrebelledagainstitbyreviewingsources.
ThesourcesusedtoshowhowAmericansthoughtofslaverycomesfrommultiplechapterswithin theSourcesforAmerica'sHistory.Someofwhich,reflectsomeauthorsorspeakersopinionsas otherarewrittenobservationsorrecordedcouncilmeetings.Asstated,theseareopinions respectivelygivingbytheauthorsthatcanbeeitherproorantiabolishmententhusiastSomeofthe abolitionistconsistofDavidWalker,withhispreambletoWalker'sAppealinFourArticles(1830).
EthanAndrewswasaprofessorofancientlanguagesattheUniversityattheUniversityofNorth Carolina.Ethanrecordedhisexperienceswithslaveandslaveownersas
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Throughoutthiscoursewelearnedaboutslaveryandit'seffectsonourcountryandonAfrican Americans.SlaveryandracismisprevalentthroughouttheAmericasbeforeduringandafter ThomasJefferson'spresidency.SomepeoplesaythatJeffersondidnotreallyhelpstopanyofthe slaveryintheUnitedStates.IfeelverydifferentlyandIwillexplainwhythroughoutthisessay. ThroughoutthisessayIwillbeexplaininghowviewsofracewerechangedintheUnitedStates afterthepresidencyofThomasJefferson,andhowtheeventsoftheJeffersonianErasetthestage forracerelationsforthenineteenthcentury.
"Nobodywishesmoreardentlytoseeanabolition,notonlyofthetrade,butoftheconditionof slavery;andcertainly,...showmorecontent...
ThisiswherepeoplesaythatThomasJeffersonisveryhypocritical,andwrong.
OnMarch2,1807ThomasJeffersonsignedabillthatwouldstoptheslavetradeonJanuary1, 1808.Theslavetradewasnotonlyaproblemwiththegovernmentitwasaproblemmorallyfor everyonepartofitJeffersonwastheonewhoreallygotthewheelsturningintheissueof abolishingslaveryintheUnitedStates.In1790alawwaspassedthatprohibitedanyUScitizen fromparticipatingintheslavetradewithforeignports.Alsoanotherlawwaspassedin1794,andit saidthatnoonecangiveparts,helpfix,rohelpanyvesselsthatareusedforslavetrading.Asyou canseeformalloftheselawsthatbeforeduringandaftertheJeffersonianeratheUnitedStateswas tryingtoputastoptoslaverywithoutgoingthroughacivilwar
In1787theUnitedStatesmadeuptheordinanceof1787,thisbannedanyslaverynorthoftheOhio River.Thismadethenorththeplacetobeforrunawayslaves.Thenorthwasaplacewhereall runawayslavescangoandbefreeThiswasverygoodfortheslavesandthenortherncolonies becauseofthestrongmoralobligationsthatnorthernsettlershadagainstslavery.Alsoanothergood thingthatcongresspassedinfavorofAfricanAmericanswasthe3/5ordinance.Thissaidthat slavescouldvotebutiffiveslavesvotedthanitwouldonlycountas3votes.Thiswas
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AhistorianoncewrotethattheriseoflibertyandequalityinAmericawasaccompaniedbyslavery. Thereistruthinthatstatementtogreateffect.TheriseofAmericaingeneralwasaccompaniedby slaveryandthesettlerslearnedearlyonthatslaverywouldbeaneffectivewaytobuildacountry andcreatefreelabor.Therewasadefiniteaccompanimentofslaverywiththerisingoflibertyand equalityinAmericaIn1787,inPhiladelphiaattheConstitutionalConvention,thestructureof governmentwasn'ttheonlythingbeingdiscussed.AsJamesMadisonsaid,"theinstitutionof slaveryanditsimplications,"werealsohotlydebated.FonerwritesabouthowMadisonloathed slaveryandtoldtheconventionthatthe"distinctionofshowmorecontent
Thenext,morevitaltothefutureofAmerica,wastheThreeFifthsclause.TheThreeFifthsclause wassetinplacesothatthesouthernstates,whichhadsignificantlylesspeople,getmoresayinthe HouseofRepresentativesthantheirfree,whitepopulationwarranted.TheThreeFifthsclauseadded threefifthsofthetotalslavepopulationtothefreepopulationofthestateinordertobemoreequal tothenorthernstateswhosepopulationoffreemenwasoverwhelmingtotheamountinthesouthern states.
InanefforttokeepslaveryalivewiththeAtlanticslavetrade,thesouththreateneddisunion immediatelyshouldtheslavetradeintheAtlanticbebanned.ThereasonthattheAtlanticslave tradewouldhavebeenbanishedwasthehighamountofnative–bornslavesinNewEnglandand VirginiaweredemandingitsoThethreatsofdisunionswayedmanyofthedelegates'minds,onein particular,Fonernotes,isGovernorMorris,oneofPennsylvania'sdelegates.Morrissaidhewas beingforcedtodecidebetweenoffendingthesouthernstatesanddoinginjusticeto"humannature."
Forthesakeofunityamongstthenation,hechosethelatterThetwolawsdemonstratedhereshows thatwhileasanationwewereexpandingandmakingasaccessibleanationashumanlypossible,the slaveswerestillheldbackintoslavery,yetmakingupforpartofthepopulationwiththethreefifths clauseandhavingamoreofficialreturntotheirowners
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Today,peopleknowAmericaasthelandofthefree.CitizensoftheUnitedStateshavetheabilityto choosewhattheywanttodo,ararethingsseeninfewothercountries.IntheDeclarationof Independence,theFoundingFathersoutlinedhow"Allmenarecreatedequal."However,America hasnotalwaysactedlikeafreecountry.Hundredsofyearsago,slaverycametothenewnation,and spreadlikewildfirefromthereWiththeendoftheAmericanCivilWarcametheabolitionof slavery,butracismwouldstillsurroundAmerica'scommunityfordecadestocome.Whileslavery originatedintheUnitedStatesaboutfourhundredyearsago,theabolitionofthisterribletradecame slowlyandstillcontinuestodayAfterColumbusfirstlandedontheBahamasinAmericain1492, peoplefromtheEastbegantoseethebenefitsoftherichland.Establishedin1607,Jamestown becamethefirstsuccessfulsettlementintheNewWorld.Builtontheprofitsoftobacco,large amountsofcheaplaborwasneededtoplantandcollecttheshowmorecontent
In1739,theStonoRebellioneruptedinSouthCarolinaneartheStonoRiver.Slavessooncomprised themajorityofSouthCarolina'spopulationduetothedifferentfactorsTwentyenslavedAfrican Americansfirstkilledtwostorekeepersandtookoverasupplyofgunsandammunition.Then,the rebelsgatherednewrecruits,burningsevenplantationsandkillingabouttwenty–fivewhites. However,thelocalmilitiafinallysuppressedtherebellionafterfightingabattlewheretwenty whitesandforty–fourslaveswerekilled.AftertheStonoRebellion,theSouthCarolinalegislature enactednumerousstrictlawsthatbannedslavesfromearningmoney,assemblingingroups,and learningtoread.YearsbeforetheAmericanCivilWar,theStonoRebellionstressedthegrowing tensionsincolonialsocietybetweenslavesandtheir
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Thestatesinwhichslaveryisstillcommonplacearewell–knownfortheirwealth,withmuchofthis duetothefriendlypoliciesofthefederalgovernmenttowardstheSouth.Thatsaid,ifslaverywere allofasuddenabolished,asmanyintheNorthargue,thenation'seconomyasawholewouldsuffer greatly,especiallywithregardtoexports,ofwhichthosefromtheSouthcomposenine–tenths. Furthermore,thosewhobelievethatslavesintheSouthleadworselivesthanlaborersintheNorth aremistakentothepointofbeingdisingenuous.ThelaborerintheNorthhastodealwithpoverty andanxietytoamuchlargerextentthanthatoftheslave.Anothercommonmyththatabolitionists insistonisthatthelackofeducationoppressestheslaveshowmorecontent
WhileintheSouthweagreethattheimportationofslavesfromAfricawaswrong,wealso understandthattheslavesinAmericaleadbetterlivesthanthoseoftheblacksinAfrica.Thisalso relatestothefalseideathattheblackslavewas"createdfree".Intruth,accordingtotheBible,the Africanwasmadetobesubservient.Thequestionwereallymustbeaskingourselvesisthatwhen theFoundingFathersdeclared,"Allmenarecreatedequal",didtheymeantheblackslave?The answertothatquestionisanemphaticno,andhereiswhy.SlaveryhasexistedsincebeforeChrist, andwhenChristianitywasbeginningtospreadinAsia,slaverywasinperhapsitsharshestform. Slaveryatthattimeandnowinours,liketherelationshipbetweenafatherandson,isacovenant, andbreakingthesecovenantswouldeventuallydestroythesocietythatweknowtoday.Toagreat extent,slaveryhasmadepoliticianslesscorrupt,andmadepeoplemoreabletofocusonmattersof politicalimportance,asslaveownershavelessworktodothanthoseinthe
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IhonestlydonotknowhowtodeconstructthispassageandifIshouldevenrespondsincethereis nocommentarytocommenton,butIwillsayafewnoticeableelementsinabriefexegesis.The wordsofthepoemdenoteimageryofslaveryinAmericathroughtheuseoftheword,"UNION."In addition,linethreesetsupaHegelianmaster/slavedialect,whichcreatesanenvironmentof continuousoppositionalfluxinsteadofcreatinganenvironmenttobeautifythedifferencesineach otherandachievebasichumanrightsoftoleranceandequality.Thelineproceedinginvokesman's falliblenaturewhichispronetoaquasi–tabularasa,amnesiastate.Thestatelendsitselfto forgettingthegood–naturedauspicesunderwhichamoreperfectunionwas
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SlaveryinAmericanSocietySlaveryinAmericanSocietyfocusesinthesignificanceoftheworld theSlavesmade.O.Pattersonclearlydefineshownatalalienationallowedthemastertoundermine andcontrolhisslavessincesomeoftheslavesculturalidentitiesweretakenawayfromthem.The masterbelievedthatslavemanagementwouldhelpkeeptheslavesloyaltohimselfandmakethe slavesabetterworkerHowever,theslavesdidmanagetoformstrongpersonaltiestoassure themselvesofwhotheywereculturally.Thereweremanysignificantwaysthatshapedtheslaves' world,suchasreligion,spirituals,familylifeandconjure.Theslavesfoundwaysinwhichthey coulduniteandmaintainsomeoftheirshowmorecontent
Slavesoftendefiedtheirmastersandwerepunishedforsuchdefiancepublicly.AsDrewFaust pointsout,"Thosewhoperformedunsatisfactorylabor,orinanywaychallengedHammond's authoritywerelashed,inapublicdisplayoftheconsequencesofrefusaltocomplywiththemaster's will"(p.241).Thewhippingrepresentedshameonbehalfoftheslavepopulation.Themaster's motiveforwhippingwastohumiliatetheslavespublicly,sothatinthefutureonemightconsider theconsequencesbeforeattemptingsomethingfoolish.Mastersoftentriednewmethodstodominate theirslavepopulation."Overthenextseveralyears,Hammonddevelopedcarefullydesignedplanof physicallaborandpsychologicalcontrolintendedtoeliminatethefoundationsofblacksolidarity" (p.240).Suchmethodsfailedtowork.Althoughtheslavesdidgiveintobeingexploitedfortheir labor,theycouldnotbeunderminedtosuchanextentthattheywerespirituallybrokenThepractice ofreligionwasalsoforbiddentomanyslavesbytheirmasters.Therefore,slavesoftenhadtohave secretsermons,asLawrenceLevinepointsout,"Slavesbroketheproscriptionagainstunsupervised orunauthorizedmeetingsbyholdingtheservicesinsecret,well–hiddenareas,usuallyreferredtoas "Hush–Harbors""(p.111).Theslaveswereafraidofbeingcaught,becauseiftheydidtheywouldbe floggedseverely.Mastersoftentriedtodisruptthe
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Slaveryisaterrifyingactthatoccurredworldwideandthroughouthistory.Manysocial,economic, andpoliticalforcesplayedamassivepartintheupcomingofslavery.Africanswerestrippedfrom theirfamiliesandhomesandforcedintolabor.AbouttwomillionslavesfromAfricawerebrought totheSouthintheUnitedStatesandaroundthe1830'saVirginialawprohibitedallblacksfrom learningtoreadandwriteSlaverywasahorrendousphenomenathatentrenchedAfricansinthe Southastheytriedtomaintaintheiridentityandgainfreedomthroughrelentlesshardworkand survival.
SlaveryintheSouthwasatrocious,slaveshadnorightsandweretreatedwithnorespectThe South'seconomywasmainlybasedonagriculture,wherethey...showmorecontent...
Africanswerebrutallytreatedandstillpreservedthelovefortheirfamiliesnomatterwhatwas goingon.Manystuckwiththeiridentityanddidwhattheyhadtodotostaysafeforthemselvesand theirfamilies.However,someslavesacquiredtheirownfreedombybuyingitfromtheirowners. Someslavesobtainedtheirfreedomthroughmanumission,whichisthevoluntaryemancipationofa slavebytheirowner.Manumissionwasofferedtoslavesbecausetheyprevailedalonglifeorthey weresometimesfavoredbytheirowner.Manyslavesalsoescapedfromtheirownerstofree themselves.In1808,importingslavesfromAfricagotbannedbycongress.Steadilyafterthatthe MissouriCompromisebannedslaveryin1820northofthesouthernboundary.
Althoughslaverywasahorrificeraintime,itcreatedmanynewrelationshipsandcompromises. SlavesintheSouthweretreatedinhumanlybuttheystilltriedtomaintaintheiridentityandgain freedomTheworldasawholelearnedfromthistimeandnowblacksarefreepeopleSlaverywas morallywrongandunjust,andisnowaghostinAmerica'shistory.Slaveryhasbeenabolishedin Americaforoveracentury,butpeoplearestilllearningtoday.Americaisstillmovingforwardfrom thiserawhereallracesareequalandracismis
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SlaveryinAmericahasalwaysbeenawidelydiscussedtopic.Manyofthesediscussionshavebe focusonwhyslaverygrewsorapidlybetweenthelate1700'sandthemid1800'sjustbeforethe CivilWar.Thenumberofslavesinthesouthduringthelate1700'swasapproximately500,000,this numbergrewtoalmostfourmillionbythe1860's.Thereisevidencetosupportthattheperpetuation andexpansionofblackslaveryintheUnitedStatesbetween1776and1860wasinfluencedby greed,asinceofwhitesuperiority,andlegislation.Acombinationthatwouldleadtoaneventual civilwar.Greedwasamajordrivingforceintheexpansionofblackslaveryintheinthe18thand 19thcenturiesThisexpansionofslaverywasacyclethatwouldperpetuateitselfPlantationowners wouldrealizeearlyonthattheownershipofslavewouldincreasetheirsocioeconomicstatusandthe greedforthisstatuswasenormous.Theuseofslaveswouldcreatehigherprofitmarginsforthe plantationowners.Withhigherprofits,plantationownerscouldpurchasemoreland,andwithmore landcametheneedformorelabor(slaves)tooperatethelargerplantation.Alargerplantation wouldleadtoownercomingintopowerwithinthelocalgovernmentasatoplandownerThe politicalpowerthatcamewithlocalgovernmentleadershipalsobecamelustedafter.Atthetime,the greedformoremoneybirthedthegreedformoreland,thegreedformorelandbirthedthegreedfor politicalpower.Allof
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SlaveryinAmericastemswellbacktowhenthenewworldwasfirstdiscoveredandwasledbythe countrytostarttheAfricanSlaveTrade–Portugal.TheAfricanSlaveTradewasfirstexploitedfor plantations
intheCaribbean,andeventuallyreachedthesoutherncoastsofAmericaTheAfricannativeswere ofallagesandsexes.Womenusuallyworkedinthehomescookingandcleaning,whilemenwere sentoutintotheplantationstofarm.Younggirlswouldusuallyhelpinthehousealsoandyoung boyswouldhelpinthefarmbybailinghayandloadingwagonswithcropsTheywereshippedfrom AfricabytheEuropeans,"TheTriangularTrans–AtlanticSlaveTrade".Thiswasan organizedroutewhereshowmorecontent
Thesysteminvolved3,000whitehelpersandfreedanestimated75,000peopleafterthecivilwar.
Slaveryinthemiddleofthe1800'swasabolishedexceptfortherebellionstatesinthesouthIn 1863,theEmancipationProclamationwasissuedwhichmadeslaveryillegalinthestatesthathad rebelledandallowedblackslavestoserveinthearmyandgetotherjobs,orcontinuetoworkonthe plantations,asemployeesmakingmoney.Thenightmareofslaverywasoverbutanewonewasto begin.Onethatwasworseforitwasprevalentbutwassecretandsilent.Onethatexiststoday.One thatdoesnotshrinkbutrathergrowsRacismwasandisstilluponus
TheKuKluxKlanhasbeenaroundsincetheendofthecivilwar.Itisarollercoasterofahistory. Fromextremepower,torapiddecline,andslowreemergenceTheclan,whoisnotoriousforits violence,hasarelativelyinnocentbeginning.Itwasformedfromsomeveteransfromthe confederatearmyandwasfirstcalledtheKuklosClanwhich,inGreek,meantCircleClan.One personthoughtitwouldbeagoodideatocallitthe"KuKluxKlan"asaparodyofthe fraternitynameswhichalwayshadthreeGreekalphabetlettersinit.TheycreatedtheClantobe mischievousandtodoitwithoutanyoneknowingwhotheywerewhichaccountsfortheircostumes
andmasks.They,likemost
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ManyindividualswholivedinAmericaduringthistimeperioddidnotacquiretheirfreedom,unless theywerewhite,whichplayedabigroleonhowslaveryexpandedsoquicklythroughoutthenation. SlaveryinAmericabeganwhenthefirstAfricanslaveswerebroughttotheNorthAmericancolony ofJamestown,Virginia,in1619,tonourishcropssuchastobacco.Theplantationowners,usually whitewealthymen,weretheoneswhoownedslavesandforcedthemtodohardworkinglabor, providingthemwithnoincomefortheirworknoranysortoffreedom.Theabolitionofslaverysoon becamethemaingoalintheNorth,becausetheywereagainsttheideaofslaveryandwantedfree–labor,actuallypayingindividualtoworkinsteadofforcingandabusingthemtodosoAlthough,the Southwereallaboutslave–laboranddislikedtheideaofputtinganendtoslaverymainlybecause theabolitionofslaverywouldunderminetheSoutherneconomy.Theinstitutionofslaveryandthe conceptoffreedomshapedfactorssuchassociety,government,politicalunity,andpoliticaldivision inearlyAmericanlife.SlaveryandfreedomshapedtheNorthernandSouthernsocietydifferently. SlaveryimpactedtheNorthandSouthsocietyinadissimilarway,becausenorthernerswasanti–slaveryweresouthernerswerepro–slavery.TheSumner–BrooksAffaircartoon,demonstratesa broaderstatementofNorthernsocietyandSouthernsociety,overthisissueofslavery.Thisconflict provesthattheybothfind
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Slaveryanditseffectsonamericanisatopicthatcanbedebatedfrommanydifferentangles. SlaveryinAmericabeganwhenthefirstAfricanslaveswerebroughttotheNorthAmericancolony ofJamestown.SlaveryslowlystartedcausingadividebetweentheNorthandSouth.Thenorthled byPresidentLincolnbelievedthatslaveryshouldbeabolished.TheSouthhadamajorityofthe slavesSlavesatthattimewereanecessityinthesouth,tosomesouthernersslaveswereworthmore thanmoney.TheNorthandSouthdividedandtheCivilWarbegan.TheUndergroundRailroad raisedthequestionofslavery,whichdiddividethenationalittleandfurtheredthehatredbetween thenorthandsouthhelpingtocausetheCivilWarAlthoughitchangedshowmorecontent AtthistimeAlexanderStephens,VicePresidentoftheconfederatestatesgavehis"Cornerstone Speech"inwhichhedeclaredthat"ournewGovernmentisfoundeduponexactlytheoppositeideas; itsfoundationsarelaid,itscornerstonerests,uponthegreattruththatthenegroisnotequaltothe whiteman;thatslavery,subordinationtothesuperiorrace,ishisnaturalandnormalcondition."his supportofslaverywasopposedbymanyOnemanopposedtohisopinionswasPresidentAbraham Lincoln.Lincolnmakeshisstanceonslaveryveryclearinoneofhisspeecheswherehestates"I havealwayshatedslavery,IthinkasmuchasanyAbolitionist.IhavebeenanOldLineWhig.I havealwayshatedit,butIhavealwaysbeenquietaboutituntilthisneweraoftheintroductionof theNebraskaBillbegan.Ialwaysbelievedthateverybodywasagainstit,andthatitwasincourseof ultimateextinction"EvenbasedonthesestatementsomestilldonotseeLincolnasan "abolitionist".ThisisduetothefactthatLincolncamelatetotheanti–slaverycauseand,atevery stage,trailedbehindotherswhoweremorecommitted,moreabletoriseabovethepervasiveracism, morewillingtorisktheirreputationsforthecauseButnoabolitionistcouldeverhavebecome presidentin
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WhenslaverywasfirstbeingintroducedtotheAmericasitwasrelativelypeaceful,slaveshasthe optiontochoosetogooffthelandoftheirowner.Theslaveswereseenlessasproperty,aswhite menwouldsellthemselvesinordertogetoutofdebt,andwereonlyslavesforafiniteamountof time.Asthenewcountriesdevelopedfurther,plantationsbecamethenewuseofslaves.A plantationisanestateinwhichcrops,suchascoffee,tobacco,and/orcottonareplantedand harvestedbythepropertyowner.Astheestateownersneededmorehandtoworkonthefarm, slavesbecamehighindemand.ThisdemandwassatisfiedthroughtheTrans–Atlanticslavetrade, whereslavescametotheAmericasfromAfricaAsorganizationsgrowinsize,theybecomeless organized,andhardertocontrol.Asaresult,whenplantationsgainedpopularityinAmerica,slavery becameamoreviolentandabusivearrangementasitwaseasierandmoreefficienttocontrolslaves thatway.ThroughtheTrans–Atlanticslavetrade,moreandmoreslaveswerebeingacclimatedto theplantationlife.Alloftheseslaveswereneededtohandlethevastamountoflandoccupiedbythe plantationAnexampleofhowlargeasingleplantationcouldbeisdepictedinapaintingbyJohann HeinrichStobwasser.Inthispicturethereisawomanshownworkingintheforeground.Theninthe backgroundthepicturegoesontodisplaymilesoflandalongwithhundredsofworkers,workingon asinglefield.Thisgivesan
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ThehistoryofslaveryinAmericashowsthatAfricanAmericanswereseenbelowhumans.Infact theywerenotcountedasafullhuman.Mickle'sarticlestatesthat"becauseshewasaslave, Americanlawdidnotrecognizeherasafullpersonentitledtothelaw'sprotectionorofequalstatus towhitepeople"(Mickle80).NotbeingcountedasapersoncouldhaveinfluencedWheatleyina negativeway,butherloveforGodandherfaithmadetheseracistremarksandexperiences different.Wheatleyunderstoodthatslaverywasevil,butsherefusedfortheeviltowin.Shewanted everyonetobeabletoseethatGodhasaplanforeverythingandeverythinghappensforareason. ThroughoutthepoemthereadercanseehowtheinfluencesofAmericashowmorecontent ThehopeandfaithofknowingthatGodwilldeliveryouiswhatallowedPhillistokeepgoing. WheatleywasnottheonlyAfricanAmericanslavetobetaughtChristianity.Christianityisthe religionofAmericaandiswhatbuiltAmerica.Thepilgrim'sviewsonGodwantingpeopletobe savedandgivingsecondchancesreallyallowpeopletorepentandbesaved.Theybelievedthatif youarerightwithGodandtoothersyouwillultimatelybesavedThesereligiousviewswere passeddownthroughgenerationsandweremodifiedtochangeandfitthetimeperiodthatthere wereintroduced.Whenitcomestoslavery,AmericasbelievedthatGodgaveHiswordtobetaught andreceivedbypeople.SinceAmericansdidnotviewAfricanAmericansasfullpeopleitwashard toputuptheargumentthateveryoneshouldknowGod.
Wheatley'sviewsonpeoplebeingbroughttoGodwerethateveryonehastheabilitytobetaught andtobesaved.ShewantedAmericanstounderstandthatitdoesnotmatteryourbackground,your educationlevel,oryourskintone,GodlovesallandHewantseveryonetobesaved.Herinfluence onAmericaandtheviewsofequalityiswhatultimatelystartedtheabolitionist
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Throughouthistory,racialinequalityanddiscriminationhasplaguedmanynations;Americaasa formingcountrywouldbenoexceptiontothis.Severalminoritygroupswouldbeaffectedbythe developingnationsneedsforlabor,landandotherresources.Discriminatetreatmentofethnicand racialgroupshighlyimpactedAmerica'seconomyaswellasitssocialstructure.Anexampleof theseeffectsisthatwhichAfricanslavelaborhadonthedevelopingcountrySlaverywasfirst introducedtoAmericaduringthecolonialperiodthroughthemeansofthemiddlepassage.The middlepassagewastheportionofthetransatlanticwhichbroughtenslavedAfricanstoAmerica. Thevoyagecouldtakeanywherefromonetotwomonthsandwasoftendeadlytoshowmore content...
DuetothefactthatAfricanslaveswereviewedasproperty,theirownerscouldtreattheminany waytheysawfitwithoutthefearofpunishment.Manyslavesfacedseverephysicalandmental abuse,whichwasoftenunprovoked.Oneapproachthatslaveownersoftenusedtocontroltheir slaves,wasthethreatofsellingthemtoplacessuchasLouisianaortheCaribbeanIslandsInthese areas,slaveswereoftenworkedtodeathbecauseoftheintenselaborneededtoharvestcropssuchas sugarcane.Inlateryears,thetreatmentofslavesdidnotimprovebutmovementstoendslavery wouldriseinpopularityintheyearsleadingtotheCivilWar.
Africanslaveswerenottheonlyminoritymistreatedduringthegrowthandexpansionofthenation. NativeAmericansalsofacedadversitiesduetodiscriminationandgreedEarlysettlersduringthe colonialperiodwouldoftentakeadvantageofNativeAmericans.Oneinstanceofthiscanbefound whenlookingattheJamestownsettlementinVirginia.Afterthediscoveryoftobaccoasaprofitable crop,EnglishsettlerssoughttoobtainadditionallandwhichwaspossessedbytheIndiansInorder todothis,thesettlersfounditnecessary
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Slavery,especiallyinAmerica,hasbeenanageoldtopicofrivetingdiscussions.Specialistand otherresearchershavebeendiggingaroundforcountlessyearslookingforanswerstothemany questionsthatsuchanactivityprovided.Theyhavelookedintotheeconomicsofslavery,slave demography,slaveculture,slavetreatment,andslave–ownerideology(p.ix).Despiteslaverybeing aglobalissue,themainfocusisalwaysonAmericanslaveryPeterKolchineffectivelyillustratesin hisbook,AmericanSlaveryhowslaveryevolvedalongsideofhistoricalcontroversy,theslave–ownerrelationship,howslaverychangedovertime,andhowAmericacomparedtootherslave nationsaroundtheworldSlaveryevolvedinmanydifferentwaysshowmorecontent
Suchadramaticswitchastheonefromindenturedservantstoslaveswasnottheonly transformationinAmericanslavery.Slavesunderwentmanyintegralchangesastheyearsof servitudeprogressed.Theslave–ownerrelationshipdirectlyrepresentedhowtimeschangedfor slaveswhileworking.AstheywerebroughtovertoAmericaandwereincultureshock,theywere oftentreatedlikeabsolutedirtTheinferiorityofslavesisillustratedasKolchinstatesthat"Itwas easytolookuponAfricansinaninstrumentalmanner:theywere"savages"importedtowork,and fewplantersexpressedmuchinterestintheirlives,exceptforalivelyconcernwithtrainingthemin thatworkorsecuringtheirobedience(p.59)."Astimeprogressedhowever,andlessslaveswere directlyfromAfrica,theideologytowardsslaveschanged.Kolchinwritesthat"Slaveownerswere changingtoo:justastheslaveswerebecomingAmerica–born,so,too,werethemasters(p59)" Slaveownersstartedtolookatslavesataspeopleinsteadofobjects.Thiswasaverymonumental stepinslavery.Slavesbegantogainmorefreedomsfromtheirmasters.Thesefreedomsincluded religiousSundaysoff,familyvisitations,andtheabilitytomakemoneyonthesideWhilesome slaveswerestillmetwiththehardshipsofharshsouthernslaveownersbeatingthem,astimewent on,slavesbecamemoreof
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