Peculiar Institution Of Slavery Summary
The Peculiar Institution of Slavery I
The African Slave Trade
African Kingdoms
Europe and the Slave Trade
The Capture and Transport of Slaves
Slavery in America
Northern Colonies
Southern Colonies
Slave Labor
The African Slave Trade
-10 to 11 million africans kidnaped and brought to usa most of those slaves went to south and latin america those who came to america were a minority europeans don’t create slavery and don’t invent the slave slave they tapped into existing slave trading in africa - it already was apart of the african culture - myth the white people go and bring them back to own a human being you need to dehumanize them slavery creates racism not the other way around - this racism emerges in this myth …show more content…
that africa was backward and it was the dark continent. that africans were lesser civilized beings. estimated on the eve that euro tapped into slavery that africa had as big of a population as eruope and it was diversified - middle class, rich, poor, etc agriculture in africa was as sophisitcated as it was in paris, rome, etc many socities in africa had their own legal system and codified laws
The Kingdom of Mali
Timbuktu and islamic universities - huge - studied math and astronomy - education and scientific progress was apart of africa
Europe and the Slave Trade they got through the slave trade through the portuguese
Price Henry went through the african waterways and this was when theyt apped into the slave trade portugese got slaves in return for equal valued goods - iron, guns, brass pots, etc - equitable business trade europeans alter slavery expands it scope and the number of slaves bc of new crops - sugar in Caribbean, rice, etc. the capture and transport of slaves from the west cost of africa
3 stages of getting them to the plantations
First Leg african agent would have bought stolen bartered for african slaves and they would have been marched to the coast leg is from the inland to coast this is the beginning of brutilization of slaves slaves march in a single line with chain around their neck waste legs walking upward of 500 miles this is where first slave rebellions began - they couldn’t run away so the salve rebellion came in the form of suicide. they’re being ripped from their families and villages and they don’t know what’s going to happen - so there were two ways the slaves found to commit suicide
1. they had their hands free, the soil turned into clay after rain, they would scoop up some of the clay and would choke to death
2. through rocks at hives of killer bees and allow themselves to be stung to death
those who survive get to the coast and they’re sold to a european ship captain they’re branded with the companies logo on the back and inside of the cheek then put into the canoes to the harbor to the big slave ships another form of suicide - they would tip the canoes and drown because they didn’t know how to swim
Second Leg - middle passage ships were cargo ships - not passenger ships - squished together because you want as many “product” to get to the new world to sell delicate situation for captain - they didn’t want to waste food on them but they couldn’t die of starvation slave owners allowed to happen - allowed the slaves to act out their tribal dances (this is how you get the transfer of african cultural music to the united states) despite what the ship owners did 10-15% didn’t make it - through starvation and rebellion attempted mutinies - wanted to take the ship back to africa - when they failed the punishments were brutal - you don’t kill a slave because you’re killing your economic property - instead you would cut out a tounge or brand them again in really sensitive areas - won’t kill because doesn’t make economic sense
Third Leg in the ports - …show more content…
auctions if a family was somehow able to survive first two legs, this is where they would be auctioned off and split up - the slaves were poked and prauded to see their physical stance and their cavities were checked for disease - compaired to cattle acution
Slavery in America first africans came to america in 1619 and were brought over by the dutch and sold to americans those first africans were indentured servants and not slaves - 7 year contract - when it was up they got their own land and materials - slavery takes a long time to develop by the 1660’s we have black slave labour in america - not because they’re african but because they need a labour force
The Virgina Codes further the path to racism 1660s - if you’re born under a slave mom the child is a slave for life
Norther Colonies there were slaves here but very small in number white families owned maybe 1 or 2 slaves and they lived in the house with them. They sat down and ate meals together - many were allowed to marry and have children - different institution - part of the reason it’s different because of the Quakers
Quakers all about social equality and the first abolitionists - racism is against moral code and gods plan bigger reason - slaves were not as necessary and an economic drain economically not needed - smaller farms - type of agriculture is different and you don’t need the labour force - industrialization and there are mechinized ways to pick apples or milk a cow - immigration, to the north the poor immigrates go and many are catholic. for many norther colonies africans were higher on the scale from catholics. many of the few african slaves had rights and some could own property and shops ( cottage industries ) some were able to have children and marry so different that by the 1800’s there were no slaves (mason-dixon line)
Southern Colonies slavery defines the south with their economy, politics, race structure - huge implication through southern society
Free Black Persons former slaves that are now free and exists in an odd world most had to carry identification papers saying they’re a free black person how achieved freedom - bought - freed - military participation work out a deal with master to buy freedom - money could be made by having your own side business other salves were freed by masters - often seen in will slave owners in western regions of south that were facing indian wars and white masters would make deals with slaves to fight with them against natives and they would grant freedom some of these free black people were slave owners and gave two reasons to whyt hey onwed slaves as a black person themselves they would be more humane than the white slave owner would - this was usually bunk and never the case simple economics - black slave owners wanted to be rich and the cheapest source of labour were slaves (one black owner in louisiana had 91 slaves)
Southern Slave Labor hierarchy From black perspective .. artisans the best jobs you can get on a plantation small elite group of black slaves that had a skill - leather makers, weavers, horse shoe makers - their skills were necessary for day to day operation to make the plantation work. Industiral artisans - these jobs gave them freedom allowed by the master to go into town very few of them actually ran away - this is the group that was least likely to rebel and rebel - they were the ones that were not beaten and many were literate with connection
Household Servants - worst job - but from the white position theyt hink it’s the best job they lived with the masters and his family the maids buttlers seamstresses - live day in and day out 24/7 with the master and always on call they find themselves caught - no freedom and no litteracy skills - they aren’t with mass group of africans so they lose their culture and connection to bigger group of black slaves - this is why most of these black household slaves develop stuttering - psychological effect of always being on egde and on call many argue these servants began to develop stalkholm syndrome - they took care of the kids because of emotional attachments - these are the snitches and would tell on other black slaves - they were hated by other black slaves because they’re seen as being in the white camp
Agricultural Workers bulk of slave workers - working day in day out in the field because they’re out in the field they have a bit of freedom and community this is were slave african religion prosper and takes root/african spirituals this is the group where from the slave revolts emerges
Slave Culture very much about survival
Religion very much involved whites made slaves go to white churches fusion of tradition african religions with protistinism big fear of slaves becoming literate - masters afraid slaves would read the entire bible so - white minister would speak to congregation and repeat psalm so the slaves wouldn’t have contact with bible/book black musical spirituals (gospel singing) very much apart of planation life songs full of meaning - not just biblical - and have a story that would conenct to slaves themselves some of the stories would be celebrating the isrealites - moses was a huge hero to slave spirituals - others were songs about escape - spirituals had hidden meanings - within the songs they had escape routes “fallow the drinking gourd” - following versus of songs would find escape route from plantation underground culture emerging
Family - basis of emotional survival rare cases of continuation of blood family but usually all sold off seperately most of slave families were extended and created among the salve community head of these slave families tended to be elder female - kept family together and would be nurse made or emotional connection problems to families was it was easy to sell of family member and a form of control by slave master - sell women unbehaved slave was in love with or his child - form of punishment shortage of women - slave owners wanted big men to work plantation but realized they’d need slave women to ahve slave children - takes a while for this to catch on white male owners would use sexual power over the female slaves as a means of control - will rape your daughter, wife, mother if you rebel
Rebellion and Riots slaves don’t want to be slaves and the mythology of the old south is that slaves were happy and thrilled to be out of africa and in america - household slaves were apart of the family - mental justification you had to go through to “own another human being” daily basis - passive rebellion to give themselves a sense of agency or power - spitting in soup, bed bugs in sheets, grasshopper cricket loose in the house. This isn’t going to end slavery but for a moment will make them feel like they’ve got one over on the master set a fire, burn crops, burn a barn or wagon hide out theft - stealing of chicken, liquor, bread - when they were supposed to be planting cotton they wouldn’t put seeds in and no one knows until next spring nothing grows little things done to get their point across despite mythology that whites said slaves were happy, they knew they were unhappy biggest fear slave owners lived with that there would be mass slave revolt - more slaves than white people
Haiti 1803 lessons - through slave revolt
Denmark Vesey knew what was going on in haiti and was able to buy freedom in america in 1822 Charlston Summer he wants to recreate haiti and abolosh slavery through a black revolt put together though underground communication an army of 9,000 it was supposed to be biggest slave revolt in american history but someone said something and everyone knew what was going on.
Vesey’s plan fell apart was captured and he and his luitenants were executed this failed but it is also very real that these revolts are coming
Nat Turner’s Rebellion
Virginia August 1831 from the moment he was born his parents told him and believed that he was chosen by God that his place and role on earth was to lead a slave revolt - he becomes a mystical figure among the salves on his plantation he learned to read the bible - very smart - and has biblican heros - but also knows what happened to Vesey.
No army of 9,000 and instead put together a small group of 70 slave males he could trust tighter circle and info in contained summer of 1831 they went on their death march first targets were their own owner - slaughtered them in their beds included children in their beds.
Argument is that if you don’t kill kids, there’s the next generation of slave owner went from house to house and slaughtered those who could not get out of their way
White put together army to go after them - he escaped and lived in the woods for 2 months but was caputured and put to trial for
execution they allowed for nat turner to give a speech before his execution he spoke for about 45 minutes *significant - for a first time slave gave voice for the brutality of slavery - talking about wippings, rapes and beatings - this confession really helps to kickstart aboloitionist movement in the north the legacy of nat turner - restrictions on slaves increased - two black slaves could not be seen talking with each other - restrictions against knives - used by parents to control kids “nat turner is going to come and get you if you don’t eat your vegitables”
Aboloition social reform movement quakers trying to educate kids to be abolitionists
ACS - American colonization society 1817 - brought together northern abolotinists along with a handful of white southern white slave owners odd partnership purpose - repatriate slaves back to africa - slave owners wanted to get rid of sick slaves or troublesome slaves - abololitionists thought this was humanitarian to get them back to homeland supporters reached all the way to federal government including president of united states federal government and organization bought a piece of land in africa from british - Lieria (capital Monrovia - James Monro president) - designed for repatriation of black african slaves in total about 5,000 black slaves up until the civil war were sent to liberia most reisistance was from salves - they’re american not african - they speak english not african languages - religious divide - as horrible as their lives are, it’s all they know.
William Llyod Garrison - The LIberator liberal radical problem with acs was that it was gradual and he believed that abolition could not be gradual - no 5 year or 10 year plans - just do away with it his argument - if you look at contitution it says all men are created equal not all WHITE men if america is going to be a democratic republic it can’t have slavery - hurting americas reputation the issue is not just slavery - must give blacks equal rights *very radical gave warning - if we don’t abolish slavery, they’re going to keep rebelling and it’s going to get bloody. Do this now and save yourselves. created newspaper - The Liberator to get his perspective out this view was too much and too radical for 1840’s
The Black Abolitionists debate over who is best voice black man or white man
Frederick Douglass was born a slave - a child of rape - slave mother and white master but was taught by fathers white sister and was fully literate in reading and writing skills allowed to to escape and went to north - forged identiy card saying he was a free black person boston 1838 - worked with Garrison
Douglass felt used though by Garrison - black man trodded on stage by white abolitionist and he was in second base - huge racial tension between the two left and start his own movement wrote his autobigraphy - Narrative Life of Frederick Douglass 1845
** first hand perspective talked about his escape (he somewhat regretted) - identified himself as a runaway slave and now there’s a bounty on his head thing’s got so heated, he went to england for a year so things could calm down when he came back he created the first black newspaper the North Star - abolitionist newspaper with info on the underground railroad and stories of black slaves - emotional connection to slavery when the civil war broke out he becomes an aid to abraham linlcon - douglass pushes for ........ becomes us’ first black diplomat
Sojourner Truth women faced with double descrimination slave name was isobella like nat turner considered herself a child of God - told her she had a purpose to spread the world of the impact slavery had on women and be the voice of female slave sojourner - travel for work - truth - spoke the truth talked about first accounts of rape giving birth to child snatched away and sold into slavery talked about being a mother - sorrow - adding emotional connection
Harriet Tubman the underground railroad 1840s-1861
“conductors” that helped you and “stations” as rest stops
Harriet was the most famous conductor - she becomes the most wanted women in america - escaped 1849 herself and was so thankful she became a conductor made 19 trips back into america to help others escape - determined to get people to saftey and used gunpoint at some points reward for her head - becomes the most wanted person even more insidious because she’s a women - most frightening face for slave advocates
*abolition isn’t going to end slavery but is going to create emotional connection it’s going to take politics and a political crisis to end slavery in america
The African Slave Trade
African Kingdoms
Europe and the Slave Trade
The Capture and Transport of Slaves
Slavery in America
Northern Colonies
Southern Colonies
Slave Labor
The African Slave Trade
-10 to 11 million africans kidnaped and brought to usa most of those slaves went to south and latin america those who came to america were a minority europeans don’t create slavery and don’t invent the slave slave they tapped into existing slave trading in africa - it already was apart of the african culture - myth the white people go and bring them back to own a human being you need to dehumanize them slavery creates racism not the other way around - this racism emerges in this myth …show more content…
that africa was backward and it was the dark continent. that africans were lesser civilized beings. estimated on the eve that euro tapped into slavery that africa had as big of a population as eruope and it was diversified - middle class, rich, poor, etc agriculture in africa was as sophisitcated as it was in paris, rome, etc many socities in africa had their own legal system and codified laws
The Kingdom of Mali
Timbuktu and islamic universities - huge - studied math and astronomy - education and scientific progress was apart of africa
Europe and the Slave Trade they got through the slave trade through the portuguese
Price Henry went through the african waterways and this was when theyt apped into the slave trade portugese got slaves in return for equal valued goods - iron, guns, brass pots, etc - equitable business trade europeans alter slavery expands it scope and the number of slaves bc of new crops - sugar in Caribbean, rice, etc. the capture and transport of slaves from the west cost of africa
3 stages of getting them to the plantations
First Leg african agent would have bought stolen bartered for african slaves and they would have been marched to the coast leg is from the inland to coast this is the beginning of brutilization of slaves slaves march in a single line with chain around their neck waste legs walking upward of 500 miles this is where first slave rebellions began - they couldn’t run away so the salve rebellion came in the form of suicide. they’re being ripped from their families and villages and they don’t know what’s going to happen - so there were two ways the slaves found to commit suicide
1. they had their hands free, the soil turned into clay after rain, they would scoop up some of the clay and would choke to death
2. through rocks at hives of killer bees and allow themselves to be stung to death
those who survive get to the coast and they’re sold to a european ship captain they’re branded with the companies logo on the back and inside of the cheek then put into the canoes to the harbor to the big slave ships another form of suicide - they would tip the canoes and drown because they didn’t know how to swim
Second Leg - middle passage ships were cargo ships - not passenger ships - squished together because you want as many “product” to get to the new world to sell delicate situation for captain - they didn’t want to waste food on them but they couldn’t die of starvation slave owners allowed to happen - allowed the slaves to act out their tribal dances (this is how you get the transfer of african cultural music to the united states) despite what the ship owners did 10-15% didn’t make it - through starvation and rebellion attempted mutinies - wanted to take the ship back to africa - when they failed the punishments were brutal - you don’t kill a slave because you’re killing your economic property - instead you would cut out a tounge or brand them again in really sensitive areas - won’t kill because doesn’t make economic sense
Third Leg in the ports - …show more content…
auctions if a family was somehow able to survive first two legs, this is where they would be auctioned off and split up - the slaves were poked and prauded to see their physical stance and their cavities were checked for disease - compaired to cattle acution
Slavery in America first africans came to america in 1619 and were brought over by the dutch and sold to americans those first africans were indentured servants and not slaves - 7 year contract - when it was up they got their own land and materials - slavery takes a long time to develop by the 1660’s we have black slave labour in america - not because they’re african but because they need a labour force
The Virgina Codes further the path to racism 1660s - if you’re born under a slave mom the child is a slave for life
Norther Colonies there were slaves here but very small in number white families owned maybe 1 or 2 slaves and they lived in the house with them. They sat down and ate meals together - many were allowed to marry and have children - different institution - part of the reason it’s different because of the Quakers
Quakers all about social equality and the first abolitionists - racism is against moral code and gods plan bigger reason - slaves were not as necessary and an economic drain economically not needed - smaller farms - type of agriculture is different and you don’t need the labour force - industrialization and there are mechinized ways to pick apples or milk a cow - immigration, to the north the poor immigrates go and many are catholic. for many norther colonies africans were higher on the scale from catholics. many of the few african slaves had rights and some could own property and shops ( cottage industries ) some were able to have children and marry so different that by the 1800’s there were no slaves (mason-dixon line)
Southern Colonies slavery defines the south with their economy, politics, race structure - huge implication through southern society
Free Black Persons former slaves that are now free and exists in an odd world most had to carry identification papers saying they’re a free black person how achieved freedom - bought - freed - military participation work out a deal with master to buy freedom - money could be made by having your own side business other salves were freed by masters - often seen in will slave owners in western regions of south that were facing indian wars and white masters would make deals with slaves to fight with them against natives and they would grant freedom some of these free black people were slave owners and gave two reasons to whyt hey onwed slaves as a black person themselves they would be more humane than the white slave owner would - this was usually bunk and never the case simple economics - black slave owners wanted to be rich and the cheapest source of labour were slaves (one black owner in louisiana had 91 slaves)
Southern Slave Labor hierarchy From black perspective .. artisans the best jobs you can get on a plantation small elite group of black slaves that had a skill - leather makers, weavers, horse shoe makers - their skills were necessary for day to day operation to make the plantation work. Industiral artisans - these jobs gave them freedom allowed by the master to go into town very few of them actually ran away - this is the group that was least likely to rebel and rebel - they were the ones that were not beaten and many were literate with connection
Household Servants - worst job - but from the white position theyt hink it’s the best job they lived with the masters and his family the maids buttlers seamstresses - live day in and day out 24/7 with the master and always on call they find themselves caught - no freedom and no litteracy skills - they aren’t with mass group of africans so they lose their culture and connection to bigger group of black slaves - this is why most of these black household slaves develop stuttering - psychological effect of always being on egde and on call many argue these servants began to develop stalkholm syndrome - they took care of the kids because of emotional attachments - these are the snitches and would tell on other black slaves - they were hated by other black slaves because they’re seen as being in the white camp
Agricultural Workers bulk of slave workers - working day in day out in the field because they’re out in the field they have a bit of freedom and community this is were slave african religion prosper and takes root/african spirituals this is the group where from the slave revolts emerges
Slave Culture very much about survival
Religion very much involved whites made slaves go to white churches fusion of tradition african religions with protistinism big fear of slaves becoming literate - masters afraid slaves would read the entire bible so - white minister would speak to congregation and repeat psalm so the slaves wouldn’t have contact with bible/book black musical spirituals (gospel singing) very much apart of planation life songs full of meaning - not just biblical - and have a story that would conenct to slaves themselves some of the stories would be celebrating the isrealites - moses was a huge hero to slave spirituals - others were songs about escape - spirituals had hidden meanings - within the songs they had escape routes “fallow the drinking gourd” - following versus of songs would find escape route from plantation underground culture emerging
Family - basis of emotional survival rare cases of continuation of blood family but usually all sold off seperately most of slave families were extended and created among the salve community head of these slave families tended to be elder female - kept family together and would be nurse made or emotional connection problems to families was it was easy to sell of family member and a form of control by slave master - sell women unbehaved slave was in love with or his child - form of punishment shortage of women - slave owners wanted big men to work plantation but realized they’d need slave women to ahve slave children - takes a while for this to catch on white male owners would use sexual power over the female slaves as a means of control - will rape your daughter, wife, mother if you rebel
Rebellion and Riots slaves don’t want to be slaves and the mythology of the old south is that slaves were happy and thrilled to be out of africa and in america - household slaves were apart of the family - mental justification you had to go through to “own another human being” daily basis - passive rebellion to give themselves a sense of agency or power - spitting in soup, bed bugs in sheets, grasshopper cricket loose in the house. This isn’t going to end slavery but for a moment will make them feel like they’ve got one over on the master set a fire, burn crops, burn a barn or wagon hide out theft - stealing of chicken, liquor, bread - when they were supposed to be planting cotton they wouldn’t put seeds in and no one knows until next spring nothing grows little things done to get their point across despite mythology that whites said slaves were happy, they knew they were unhappy biggest fear slave owners lived with that there would be mass slave revolt - more slaves than white people
Haiti 1803 lessons - through slave revolt
Denmark Vesey knew what was going on in haiti and was able to buy freedom in america in 1822 Charlston Summer he wants to recreate haiti and abolosh slavery through a black revolt put together though underground communication an army of 9,000 it was supposed to be biggest slave revolt in american history but someone said something and everyone knew what was going on.
Vesey’s plan fell apart was captured and he and his luitenants were executed this failed but it is also very real that these revolts are coming
Nat Turner’s Rebellion
Virginia August 1831 from the moment he was born his parents told him and believed that he was chosen by God that his place and role on earth was to lead a slave revolt - he becomes a mystical figure among the salves on his plantation he learned to read the bible - very smart - and has biblican heros - but also knows what happened to Vesey.
No army of 9,000 and instead put together a small group of 70 slave males he could trust tighter circle and info in contained summer of 1831 they went on their death march first targets were their own owner - slaughtered them in their beds included children in their beds.
Argument is that if you don’t kill kids, there’s the next generation of slave owner went from house to house and slaughtered those who could not get out of their way
White put together army to go after them - he escaped and lived in the woods for 2 months but was caputured and put to trial for
execution they allowed for nat turner to give a speech before his execution he spoke for about 45 minutes *significant - for a first time slave gave voice for the brutality of slavery - talking about wippings, rapes and beatings - this confession really helps to kickstart aboloitionist movement in the north the legacy of nat turner - restrictions on slaves increased - two black slaves could not be seen talking with each other - restrictions against knives - used by parents to control kids “nat turner is going to come and get you if you don’t eat your vegitables”
Aboloition social reform movement quakers trying to educate kids to be abolitionists
ACS - American colonization society 1817 - brought together northern abolotinists along with a handful of white southern white slave owners odd partnership purpose - repatriate slaves back to africa - slave owners wanted to get rid of sick slaves or troublesome slaves - abololitionists thought this was humanitarian to get them back to homeland supporters reached all the way to federal government including president of united states federal government and organization bought a piece of land in africa from british - Lieria (capital Monrovia - James Monro president) - designed for repatriation of black african slaves in total about 5,000 black slaves up until the civil war were sent to liberia most reisistance was from salves - they’re american not african - they speak english not african languages - religious divide - as horrible as their lives are, it’s all they know.
William Llyod Garrison - The LIberator liberal radical problem with acs was that it was gradual and he believed that abolition could not be gradual - no 5 year or 10 year plans - just do away with it his argument - if you look at contitution it says all men are created equal not all WHITE men if america is going to be a democratic republic it can’t have slavery - hurting americas reputation the issue is not just slavery - must give blacks equal rights *very radical gave warning - if we don’t abolish slavery, they’re going to keep rebelling and it’s going to get bloody. Do this now and save yourselves. created newspaper - The Liberator to get his perspective out this view was too much and too radical for 1840’s
The Black Abolitionists debate over who is best voice black man or white man
Frederick Douglass was born a slave - a child of rape - slave mother and white master but was taught by fathers white sister and was fully literate in reading and writing skills allowed to to escape and went to north - forged identiy card saying he was a free black person boston 1838 - worked with Garrison
Douglass felt used though by Garrison - black man trodded on stage by white abolitionist and he was in second base - huge racial tension between the two left and start his own movement wrote his autobigraphy - Narrative Life of Frederick Douglass 1845
** first hand perspective talked about his escape (he somewhat regretted) - identified himself as a runaway slave and now there’s a bounty on his head thing’s got so heated, he went to england for a year so things could calm down when he came back he created the first black newspaper the North Star - abolitionist newspaper with info on the underground railroad and stories of black slaves - emotional connection to slavery when the civil war broke out he becomes an aid to abraham linlcon - douglass pushes for ........ becomes us’ first black diplomat
Sojourner Truth women faced with double descrimination slave name was isobella like nat turner considered herself a child of God - told her she had a purpose to spread the world of the impact slavery had on women and be the voice of female slave sojourner - travel for work - truth - spoke the truth talked about first accounts of rape giving birth to child snatched away and sold into slavery talked about being a mother - sorrow - adding emotional connection
Harriet Tubman the underground railroad 1840s-1861
“conductors” that helped you and “stations” as rest stops
Harriet was the most famous conductor - she becomes the most wanted women in america - escaped 1849 herself and was so thankful she became a conductor made 19 trips back into america to help others escape - determined to get people to saftey and used gunpoint at some points reward for her head - becomes the most wanted person even more insidious because she’s a women - most frightening face for slave advocates
*abolition isn’t going to end slavery but is going to create emotional connection it’s going to take politics and a political crisis to end slavery in america