APSUH Slavery DBQ

Slavery and its Consequences “Freedom means you are unobstructed in living your life as you choose. Anything less is a form of slavery” (Wayne Dyer). Slavery was the main economy and way of life in the Southern United States in the late 1700’s to early 1800’s. Many slaves were being freed, but faced persecution just for being of “colored” skin. From 1775 to 1830, many slaves were being freed-through the purchase of their freedom or by owners who found ways to live without slave labor-but also slavery expanded because of inventions like the cotton gin; additionally, both free and enslaved African Americans faced oppression and some, such as Fredrick Douglass and Sojourner Truth, fought against slavery. To begin, during the late 1700’s to the early 1800’s, many slaves were being freed. In 1775, Lord Dunmore, “declare[d] all indentured Servants, Negroes, or others… free that are able and willing to bear Arms… [with] His Majesty’s Troops” (Doc A). Paul Cuffe states that, “many of our color… have cheerfully entered the field of battle in the defense of the Common cause” (Doc B). Those who would fight for the same reasons as their white counterparts were free; after the American Revolution, in which many slaves fought, the European trade markets were closed. This hurt the Southern economy, which relied on Europe to buy their tobacco and indigo, and once the trade ended, there was no need to grow those crops. In 1790, slavery only existed along the eastern coast and in the Ohio River valley and was diminishing. Slaves could even buy their own freedom: Venture Smith tells, “By cultivating this land with the greatest diligence and economy, at times when my master did not require my labor, in two years I had laid up ten pounds [for my freedom]” (Doc F).
Conversely, slavery spread with the invention of the cotton gin. Eli Whitney believed it would make cotton production easier, but instead made a demand for more slaves; in 1830, slavery had spread all over the Southern and Western United States. With cotton in high demand all over the world, Southerners thought it would be irresponsible to release their slaves, their only source of income. A country that was ready to emancipate all within its borders was now torn. Many Americans still believed that slavery was morally wrong, and spoke against it, but many Southerners fought to keep their way of life to maintain their economy. According to Absalom Jones, “Giving [slaves their] liberty would be an injury to [them]” (Doc E). Others like “Ben,” (associated with Gabriel Prosser’s Rebellion of 1800) believed that, “if we will worship Him we should have peace in all of our land” (Doc G). Ben says that God will provide if He is worshiped, so slavery should be left alone as to not disturb the peace God created.
Moreover, African Americans-both slave and free-were being discriminated against, and revolted verbally and physically. Prince Hall claims that, “Blacks [face] daily insults… [and] are shamefully abused” (Doc I). Blacks are treated, as said by Hosea Easton, “[as a] deformity” (Doc I). Slaves and free blacks alike threatened to take up arms; David Walker writes, “We must and shall be free… as you are, will you wait until we shall, under God, obtain our liberty by the crushing arm of power?” (Doc J). In order to gain equality, many wrote as Walker did, or spoke as an abolitionist, such as Fredrick Douglass. Douglass was an escaped slave who was very well educated, and he used that to his advantage to craft intelligent speeches. While some slaves and free blacks accepted the verbal and physical abuse, those like Douglass fought for freedom and equality. Sojourner Truth was also an escaped slave who spoke for abolition and women’s rights. Influential individuals such as Douglass and Truth convinced much of the Northern United States to aim to abolish slavery. In addition to peaceful protest, there were those, like Denmark Vesey, who led revolts. Vesey, a slave, almost seized Charleston in 1822, and only failed because one of his supporters betrayed him. Both slaves and free blacks resented discrimination and fought to gain equality. In summation, slavery in the United States was rollercoaster of problems; after weakening and almost being abolished, the cotton gin caused the demand for cotton and slaves to skyrocket. Also, the Southerners who owned the slaves fought to keep slavery and their economy intact. Although slaves were being freed and could even buy their freedom, many were being abused and forced to farm the highly-desired cotton. Those who escaped slavery did not see much freedom, with abuse from mobs, insults, and the denial of equal rights to those of a white person. Many African-Americans contemplated, and in some cases attempted, revolt. Slavery was a double-edged sword in the sense that it was wrong to institute, and resulted in a bloody struggle to end it. As said by David Walker, “I speak, Americans, for your good. We must and shall be free I say, in spite of you… God will deliver us from you. And woe, woe, will be to you if we have to obtain our freedom by fighting” (Doc J).