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 plantations
o Often worked 6 days a week
o Redefined sense of work: time vs. task
o 80-90% are field slaves
o 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
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