Slavery (16th-19th centuries)
INTRODUCTION
African slaves have had a great history of their fight for racial equality; however, the thought of racial equality did not start from the government, it was the people that began to pave way toward this goal. America has had a long history of slavery, the system in which people are managed like property would be, bought and sold and used as tools of labor. During the time when the North American continents were colonized by the Europeans, land was ample, work conditions were severe and there were not enough people for labor. A new solution (and problem) was introduced as a Dutch ship unloaded African slaves on to the New World, also known as America. In 1619, the beginning of slavery in America started when the first African slaves were delivered to one of the colonies, Jamestown, Virginia. In 1641, slavery was legalized as property. Slavery became very popular and profitable that in 1660, England's King Charles the Second established the Royal African Company to transport humans, they called "Black Gold," from Africa to the Americas [1]. The primary reason for these slaves was to boost aid for production of the treasured crops such as tobacco and cotton. Slaves became the large role in the economy on the large plantations. Controversies began to arise and whites began to be caught in between the economic benefits of slavery and the constitutional and morality of it. Because white Southerners were dependent on slavery for investments and production, they became more and more defensive about slavery stating that black people, like children, were incapable of caring for themselves and that slavery was a benevolent institution that kept them fed, clothed, and occupied [2]. Although the Northerners were not doubtful that black people were to be considered inferior to whites, they were doubtful of the benevolence of slavery. Slavery was not widespread throughout the North and between 1774 and 1804, the northern states abolished slavery; however, this system was still underlined in the South.
African slaves have had a great history of their fight for racial equality; however, the thought of racial equality did not start from the government, it was the people that began to pave way toward this goal. America has had a long history of slavery, the system in which people are managed like property would be, bought and sold and used as tools of labor. During the time when the North American continents were colonized by the Europeans, land was ample, work conditions were severe and there were not enough people for labor. A new solution (and problem) was introduced as a Dutch ship unloaded African slaves on to the New World, also known as America. In 1619, the beginning of slavery in America started when the first African slaves were delivered to one of the colonies, Jamestown, Virginia. In 1641, slavery was legalized as property. Slavery became very popular and profitable that in 1660, England's King Charles the Second established the Royal African Company to transport humans, they called "Black Gold," from Africa to the Americas [1]. The primary reason for these slaves was to boost aid for production of the treasured crops such as tobacco and cotton. Slaves became the large role in the economy on the large plantations. Controversies began to arise and whites began to be caught in between the economic benefits of slavery and the constitutional and morality of it. Because white Southerners were dependent on slavery for investments and production, they became more and more defensive about slavery stating that black people, like children, were incapable of caring for themselves and that slavery was a benevolent institution that kept them fed, clothed, and occupied [2]. Although the Northerners were not doubtful that black people were to be considered inferior to whites, they were doubtful of the benevolence of slavery. Slavery was not widespread throughout the North and between 1774 and 1804, the northern states abolished slavery; however, this system was still underlined in the South.
MOVEMENTS
Slave revolts occurred at times; however, only a few were successful. The well known slave rebellion that terrified the white slave owners was the one led by Nat Turner in Southampton County, Virginia, in August 1831. Nat Turner led a group of 75 black slaves who murdered approximately 60 whites in two days before the state militia forces and the resistance from the local whites overpowered them. Those who supported slavery began to use this slave rebellion as evidence that blacks were "inherently inferior barbarians requiring an institution such as slavery to discipline them, and fears of similar insurrections led many southern states to further strengthen their slave codes in order to limit the education, movement and assembly of slaves." As the North increased suppression of the blacks, abolition movements became greater.
The reactions of the Northern abolitionists became more violent towards slavery. Around the 1830s to 1860s, the movement to abolish slavery became greater in the Northern parts of America. Such movements were led by educated free blacks such as Frederick Douglass and white supporteers like William Lloyd Garrison. The antislavery novel, "Uncle Tom's Cabin" by Harriet Beecher Stowe, became bestselling and expressed the immorality of slavery. While many abolitionists based their activism on the belief that slave holding was a sin, others were more inclined to the non-religious 'free-labor' argument, which held that slave holding was regressive, inefficient and made little economic sense [1]. Many freed slaves and antislavery supporters began helping fugitive slaves escape from the pro-slavery Southerners; this soon became known as the Underground Railroad. Harriet Tubman, an African-American abolitionist, was an escaped slave who made missions to rescue more than 300 slaves by using the Underground Railroad. The fugitives would also travel by train and boat -- conveyances that sometimes had to be paid for. Money was also needed to improve the appearance of the runaways -- a black man, woman, or child in tattered clothes would invariably attract suspicious eyes. This money was donated by individuals and also raised by various groups, including vigilance committees [5].
Slave revolts occurred at times; however, only a few were successful. The well known slave rebellion that terrified the white slave owners was the one led by Nat Turner in Southampton County, Virginia, in August 1831. Nat Turner led a group of 75 black slaves who murdered approximately 60 whites in two days before the state militia forces and the resistance from the local whites overpowered them. Those who supported slavery began to use this slave rebellion as evidence that blacks were "inherently inferior barbarians requiring an institution such as slavery to discipline them, and fears of similar insurrections led many southern states to further strengthen their slave codes in order to limit the education, movement and assembly of slaves." As the North increased suppression of the blacks, abolition movements became greater.
The reactions of the Northern abolitionists became more violent towards slavery. Around the 1830s to 1860s, the movement to abolish slavery became greater in the Northern parts of America. Such movements were led by educated free blacks such as Frederick Douglass and white supporteers like William Lloyd Garrison. The antislavery novel, "Uncle Tom's Cabin" by Harriet Beecher Stowe, became bestselling and expressed the immorality of slavery. While many abolitionists based their activism on the belief that slave holding was a sin, others were more inclined to the non-religious 'free-labor' argument, which held that slave holding was regressive, inefficient and made little economic sense [1]. Many freed slaves and antislavery supporters began helping fugitive slaves escape from the pro-slavery Southerners; this soon became known as the Underground Railroad. Harriet Tubman, an African-American abolitionist, was an escaped slave who made missions to rescue more than 300 slaves by using the Underground Railroad. The fugitives would also travel by train and boat -- conveyances that sometimes had to be paid for. Money was also needed to improve the appearance of the runaways -- a black man, woman, or child in tattered clothes would invariably attract suspicious eyes. This money was donated by individuals and also raised by various groups, including vigilance committees [5].
AGAINST SLAVERY, FOR RACIAL EQUALITY
In the beginning of 1900s, America's growth became massive, which provided a leeway towards the rising conflict of slavery and whether or not it would continue to prosper or come to an end. In 1850, years after the Missouri Compromise, the Kansas-Nebraska Act created new territories to slavery in which lead to the pro- and anti-slavery tensions to boil. In 1857, the Supreme Court Case of Dred Scott repealed the Missouri Compromise by stating that all the territories would be open to slavery. Furthermore, the abolitionist John Brown's raid at Harper's Ferry, Virginia, in 1859 aroused sectional tensions even further: Executed for his crimes, Brown was hailed as a martyred hero by northern abolitionist and a vile murderer in the South [1].
As events lead one to another with the tensions of slavery, Abraham Lincoln was soon elected as president. His views upon slavery promptly because the change of slavery itself. Although Lincoln had claimed that he was antislavery, he did not immediately call for the emancipation. During the time of the central Union war, the goal was not about abolishing slavery, but to keep the United States together as one. The thought of abolishing slavery only came after because of the need of the military. The antislavery problem began growing in the North and many African Americans left to go to the South. Five days after the bloody Union victory at Antietam in September 1862, Lincoln issued a preliminary Emancipation Proclamation, and on January 1, 1863, he made it official that “slaves within any State, or designated part of a State…in rebellion,…shall be then, thenceforward, and forever free” [4]. The man who began as antislavery was the man who freed all the slaves in the states through Emancipation Proclamation.
In the beginning of 1900s, America's growth became massive, which provided a leeway towards the rising conflict of slavery and whether or not it would continue to prosper or come to an end. In 1850, years after the Missouri Compromise, the Kansas-Nebraska Act created new territories to slavery in which lead to the pro- and anti-slavery tensions to boil. In 1857, the Supreme Court Case of Dred Scott repealed the Missouri Compromise by stating that all the territories would be open to slavery. Furthermore, the abolitionist John Brown's raid at Harper's Ferry, Virginia, in 1859 aroused sectional tensions even further: Executed for his crimes, Brown was hailed as a martyred hero by northern abolitionist and a vile murderer in the South [1].
As events lead one to another with the tensions of slavery, Abraham Lincoln was soon elected as president. His views upon slavery promptly because the change of slavery itself. Although Lincoln had claimed that he was antislavery, he did not immediately call for the emancipation. During the time of the central Union war, the goal was not about abolishing slavery, but to keep the United States together as one. The thought of abolishing slavery only came after because of the need of the military. The antislavery problem began growing in the North and many African Americans left to go to the South. Five days after the bloody Union victory at Antietam in September 1862, Lincoln issued a preliminary Emancipation Proclamation, and on January 1, 1863, he made it official that “slaves within any State, or designated part of a State…in rebellion,…shall be then, thenceforward, and forever free” [4]. The man who began as antislavery was the man who freed all the slaves in the states through Emancipation Proclamation.
People to Governmental Action Through the Times
Many former slaves have stated that the property which the white slave owners hold was nearly all earned by the sweat of their brows. In some parts of the South, blacks in 1865 seized property, insisting that it belonged to them [3]. And finally, America and the people have taken a huge step towards racial equality. Ultimately slavery becomes an example of how racial equality people spark the decisions; however, the government creates the greater action of the final say on regulations.