Historical Aspects of

Slavery in America

Overview We will briefly cover different aspects

of slavery in America in the following areas:o Evolution of slaveryo Effect on settlementso Ideological shifts

Evolution Earliest records indicate slavery began in

1619 in the Jamestown colony – tobacco farming

Success of tobacco and new settlements necessitated an increased labor force

Jamestown became a major port in America, making it an early center for the slave trade

Evolution Middle Passage said to be most

devastating part of trip “One day…two of my wearied countrymen

who were chained together…jumped into the sea; immediately another followed their example…two of the wretches drowned but the crew got the other and afterwards flogged him unmercifully for thus attempting to prefer death to slavery.” – Olaudah Equiano

Evolution Field Slaves

o Worked on plantationso Often worked 6 days a

weeko Redefined sense of

work: time vs. tasko 80-90% are field

slaveso Susceptible to

physical and mental abuse

House Slaveso Performed jobs

essential to the upkeep of the homestead

o Served as “mammies” to owner’s children

o Worked 24/7o Resented by field slaves

for preferential treatment

o More susceptible to emotional and sexual abuse due to proximity to owners

Evolution Blending of cultures

o Rise of Christianity• Slaves adopt Christianity• Churches were segregated• Promise of freedom and deliverance main

appeals• Churches are beginning of abolition

movemento Nightlife• White culture: night is for relaxation, socials• Slaves: night is for enjoyment, parties• Time in work, nightlife redefined

Evolution Problems

o Different tribes, cultures, languages create conflict

o Hierarchy among veterans and those that could speak English

o Field vs House Constitutional ban on the importation of

slavery creates more continuity in slave communities – less outsiders

Effects on Settlement Constitution

o 3/5 Compromise counts 60% of the slave population for census purposes

Maintaining Balanceo As more states were added, Congress kept

a balance between slave vs non-slave (free) states

o Effect: sectionalism spread and the nation became more divided on slavery• More on economics, less on morality

Effects on Settlement Missouri

o 1818: 11 free and 11 slave states with Missouri petitioning to be added

o Problem: Not far enough north or south to clearly determine its status for entry

o Compromise:• Missouri added as a slave state• Maine created to maintain balance as a free

state• Line set at 36 degrees 30’ N latitude as a

dividing line – everything north is free, south is slave

Effects on Settlement Wilmot Proviso

o Introduced by David Wilmot of Pennsylvaniao Proposed to outlaw slavery in all the areas

gained in the Mexican-American War (non-Texas areas)

o Defeated and never passedo Effect: Further divided Congress and created

conflict on admitting states because the southern border was defined a limited

Effects on Settlement Compromise of 1850

o California admitted as a free stateo Texas gives up claims to New Mexicoo Popular sovereignty suggested for New

Mexico and Utah territories when they applied for statehood

o New fugitive slave laws• Any runaway slave had to be returned and

accomplices were charged as criminals

Effects on Settlement Kansas-Nebraska Act of 1854

o Sovereignty: authority• Popular Sovereignty: allow the authoritative

decision to be made by popular voteo Bill introduced to allow both Kansas and

Nebraska to be admitted as states but the issue of popular sovereignty to decide on slavery

o Debate over legality (remember 36-30)o Nebraska was assumed to be admitted

as a free state

Effects on Migration “Bleeding Kansas”

o Missourians and other southerners flood Kansas to tip polls in their favor

o Jayhawkers (antislavery) vs Border Ruffians (pro)

o Pottawatomie Massacre• Eastern Kansas• John Brown and followers kill 5 proslavery settlers• Violence erupts, over 200 deaths

o Both sides claim victoryo Kansas admitted as a free state in 1861

Ideological Shifts North

o Industry focusedo More centers for trade and major portso Increasing political powero Railroad modernizes travel

Southo Agriculturally basedo Cotton gin increases productiono Landlocked and less travel

Ideological Shifts Nullification Theory

o Belief that states should be able to nullify acts of Congress if it impedes their progress

o Plan Talk: States should be able to pick and choose which laws to follow

o Effects: • South should not follow anything that would

damage its economy• Slavery now becomes more of a moral issue

Ideological Shifts Emancipation

o Freeing of slaveso Biggest supporters: 1) slaves, 2) whites that had

little to no political leverageo Frederick Douglass: escaped slave, incredibly

educated, becomes voice of abolition and potential of African Americans

o Effect: If no one will do it politically, do it yourself• Underground Railroad: Series of paths, trails, and

safehouses to move slaves to the North• “Conductors” – Harriet Tubman, John Parker, John Rankin

Ideological Shifts Dred Scott v. Sandford

o Dred Scott, a slave, was taken north of Missouri in 1834.

o After four years, Scott and his master return to Missouri, a slave state.

o Scott’s master dies and he files a lawsuit on the basis of his freedom being achieved by living in a free territory.

o Supreme Court states that Scott is still a slave because he lived in Missouri and slaves aren’t citizens.

o Effect: Supreme Court could have overturned slavery but did not

Ideological Shifts Uncle Tom’s Cabin

o Published in 1852 by Harriet Beecher Stoweo Written by a white Northerner trying to depict

slavery in the Southo Produced many false stereotypes of African-

Americanso Encouraged northerners to stop slaveryo Southerners argued it was a false portrayalo Says Christian love can help end slavery

Wrap Up American slavery is often described as the

worst form in the history of the world Debates over slavery went from economic

to moral Slavery became the main issue in America 13th amendment will outlaw slavery –

passed after Civil War