African American History Part 3

Describe in great detail black resistance to experiences and conditions of enslavement and oppression from 1820-1860 in the U.S.

David Walker's Appel in 1829. Inaugural issue of William Lloyd Garrisons's newspaper the Liberator 1831, Nat Turner's Rebellion same year. Publications mainly dealt with advocating for for nonviolent but military abolition. Nat Turner more physical resistance. In 1820's about fifty black-led antislavery societies in various cities. Strongest in NY, others in Boston, Philadelphia, New Haven. 1830 first held black national convention. Interracial American Anti-Slavery Society in 1833. Fredrick Douglass elected president New England Anti-Slavery society 1847. Black women also played significant roles, formed own anti slavery organizations. Gathered signatures, held fund raising fairs. Fredrick Douglass prominent spokesman for anti slavery. Militant abolitionism also part of larger humanitarian movement. People began to adopt anti slavery ideals as a result of these groups, mainly through teachings of Christianity. Jesus taught universal brotherhood, cardinal principal of Christianity that all men created in image of God. Underground Railroad also form of resistance, slaves helped to escape through this method. American ant-Slavery society published periodicals and distributed pamphlets through North and when possible south to raise awareness. Different factions believed differently, some believed physical resistance, others believed in being more pacifist, some mixture, others mixture of two. For example, McCune Smith worked with society who were devoted to abolishing slavery "by means of the Constitution; or otherwise." Otherwise alluded to violence, and groups such as Garrisonians unequivocally renounced violence. Black abolitionists attacked pro slavery arguments that involved science saying that it was an illegitimate prop for racist social practices and was additionally anti Christian. Slaves not happy or contented with lot, black speakers spoke to refute these established ideals. Harriet Tubman legendary conductor Underground Railroad. Between 1849 and 1860 went back and for bringing over family members and other slaves. John Brown Harpers ferry 1858 59 hanged.

Describe the lives of antebellum southern slave men and women making certain to analyze different gender roles, labor, treatment and resistance patterns

Women more domestic roles, men more useful in the fields as required manuel labor. Gender roles mirrored for the most part that of society, women were nannies, cooks, basket weavers, etc. Men worked the fields, lifted heavy equipment, used machinery that was required for working the fields as to obtain whatever crop was grown in whatever particular region. Both men and women were treated as less than human, however men were often more harshly physically treated as it was believed that men could handle more physically than women. Women were often raped, and made to perform various sexual acts against their wills. It was considered taboo for a white man to have relations with a black woman let alone a slave woman. This led to many black women being killed after being raped by a white man, or physically abused to the point of death. Men on the other hand were routinely more whipped and assaulted then women. Resistance was prominent with both men and women, men however became more publicly aggressive in their approach, whereas women would resist more behind the scenes. Men would try to organize rebellions, women would try to poison their masters. This had to do more with physical capability and proximity to certain things, women had access to the slaveowners food if they were a cook, men often did not.

Compare the status and roles of blacks in the American West to those in the antebellum South

Blacks served in expeditions that mapped the West and as fur traders, miners, cowboys, Indian fighters, scouts, woodsmen, farm hands, saloon workers, cooks, and outlaws. The famed Buffalo Soldiers were soldiers in the all-black regiments of the U.S. Army (with white officers). They served in numerous western forts. About 4000 blacks came to California in Gold Rush days. In 1879, after the end of Reconstruction in the South, thousands of Freedmen moved from Southern states to Kansas. Known as the Exodusters, they were lured by the prospect of good, cheap land and better treatment. The all-black town of Nicodemus, Kansas, which was founded in 1877, was an organized settlement that predates the Exodusters but is often associated with them