African American History Midterm

pennsylvania * 70

quaker influenced community with slavery, gradual emancipation laws, strongly urged for 3/5 compromise- if put on equal footing they would revolt, slaves worked in ironworks grain production, highly debated slavery and had little resistance, malnutrition for blacks, special slave courts, showed that not all relations between whites and blacks had to be bad and took the lead in calling for abolition of slavery due to religious ties.

brom *

the black man that was alongside elizabeth freeman aka mum bett in their freedom suit, sold into slavery, husband was killed in the revolutionary war, sued for freedom following savage beating by master's wife, argued that all men are created equal in mass constitution should abolish slavery, becomes the first person freed from slavery under the mass constitution set the legal precedent that would eventually abolish slavery in mass and the US. first win and showed that blacks were intelligent and that the colonies were changing to becoming more aware of the errors of their past.

Treaty of Tordesillas *

A 1494 agreement between Portugal and Spain, declaring that newly discovered lands to the west of an imaginary line in the Atlantic Ocean would belong to Spain and newly discovered lands to the east of the line would belong to Portugal. Gave Spain the rights to colonize America (Florida) and introduce slavery in the Caribbean

paul revere *

American silversmith remembered for his midnight ride to warn the colonists in Lexington and Concord that British troops were coming, also stated that he was shocked to see mack a slave still hanging from a tree years after his death during that midnight ride, also his engraving of the boston massacre removed crispus attucks the runaway slave and made it all about white colonists being killed Shows just how little regard colonists had for blacks, they hung mack to teach slaves not to run but then left him there to rot for as long as physically possible, removing attucks could be a dialogue about the lack of attention to blacks or more of a tactical decision to make the massacre seem harsher on colonists

indentured servitude *

Big in europe and england in particular, a worker bound by a voluntary agreement to work for a specified period of years often in return for free passage to an overseas destination. Worked alongside slaves but the difference was that they chose to be there and that they couldn't be treated quite as poorly b/c they still had rights and could sue their masters for freedom the decrease in reliance on them lead to the increase in use of slaves

jemmy *

British colony of South Carolina was shaken by a slave uprising that culminated with the death of sixty people led by an Angolan named Jemmy, a band of twenty slaves organized a rebellion and broke into an armory. As they marched, any whites they could find were killed until they reached the Edisto River where white colonists descended upon them, killing most of the rebels. The survivors were sold off to the West Indies. -South Carolina authorities moved to reduce provocations for rebellion. -Masters were penalized for imposing excessive work or brutal punishments and a school was started so that slaves could learn Christian doctrine. - In a colony that already had more blacks than whites, they imposed a prohibitive duty on the importation of new slaves -Authorities enacted a new law requiring a ratio of one white for every ten blacks on any plantation and passed the Negro Act of 1740

william wilberforce *

British reformer who led the abolitionist movement that ended the British slave trade in 1807, member of the committee for the abolition of the slave trade, pursued a parliamentary campaign and used moral appeal to highlight the inhumanity of the trade and use of slaves. big victory for abolitionists and marks the beginning of the decline of slavery as other european nations follow suit and eventually the US goes to war over it.

lord dunmore *

British royal governor of Virginia who issued a proclamation promising freedom for any enslaved black in Virginia who joined the British army during the revolutionary war. The continental army still didn't budge on promising freedom but it appealed to many blacks in the south who became loyalists. Allowed for them to leave the US at the end of the war and return to Britain where they would be free people and honored for their war efforts.

brookes *

British slave ship that became infamous after prints of it were published during the abolitionist movement, depicted the conditions on board by a pro abolition group in plymouth, shows that it was in accord with the regulated slave trade act, didn't show images of barricades to separate blacks or nets to catch those who jump overboard, caused huge uproar and helped add to abolition sentiment, the fact that the ship met the standards of a legal act made it worse b/c it showed that all ships were like it.

seven years war *

French and Indian allies versus the English, english won and became dominant force in new world and with slave trade, and then taxed the colonists to pay for it even though they fought in it. Led to the revolutionary war and also the view that colonists wouldn't be the negroes of the british- ironic that they would say that and refuse abolition.

hercules *

George Washington's cook- first executive chef, who worked at Mount Vernon, had freedom to maneuver town but eventually escapes to philadelphia b/c they established a law that called for the gradual abolition of slavery- i.e. a safe haven for him Showed that there were several slaves and black people that worked in the whitehouse, after all the white house was built by them. Also shows the potential changes in social and legal status for them b/c no one ratted him out and states began to administer laws that would slowly abolish slavery

william lee *

George Washington's personal assistant and the only one of Washington's slaves freed outright by Washington in his will, because he served by Washington's side throughout the American Revolutionary War and was sometimes depicted next to Washington in paintings, Lee was one of the most publicized African Americans of his time. the remaining slaves owned by Washington were to be freed upon the death of Martha Washington, Lee was given a pension of thirty dollars a year for the rest of his life, and the option of remaining at Mount Vernon if he wanted. ignored by most historians because of his race, he had an important role to GW and as the only one freed shows that even slave holders began to feel remorse. The idea that the rest of the slaves were supposed to be freed by martha also shows that abolition is a greater possibility.

freedom suit *

Lawsuits filed by slaves that claimed they were free because of ancestry, religion, military service, etc. gave them some political power when it was successful but also led to tighter laws like the negro acts to prevent them from having these abilities

notes on the state of virginia *

Published by Thomas Jefferson in 1785, the book compared the white and black races, claiming that blacks lacked the qualities that made freedom and loyalty to the nation possible—the capacity for self-control, reason, and devotion to the larger community. Well known founding father and his opinion was highly valued and taken for fact. Also sparked debate that would give south proof to keep slavery and the north reasons to abolish it.

mansa musa *

Ruler of Mali (r.1312-1337 CE) was a convert to islam who made a pilgramage to Mecca; on the way there, he spread enormous amounts of gold showing the wealth of Mali; on the way back, he brought back education and Islamic culture. Powerful blacks existed in ancient empires before they were subjected to horrible treatment by whites. Shows that they were strong and intelligent and most of all human, also established tradition of pilgramages.

james somerset *

Somerset was purchased by Charles Stewart, a Customs officer, when he was in Boston and brought to England before escaping. After he was recaptured, he was imprisoned on a ship bound for the British colony of Jamaica to work on a plantation. His godparents made a case for a writ of habeas corpus, money was raised and lawyers were provided to support him, they argued that while colonial laws might permit slavery, neither the common law of England nor any law made by Parliament recognized the existence of slavery and was therefore unlawful. Chief Justice Mansfield: foreigners can't be imprisoned based off of law from home land, power of master over slave is different across countries and doesn't exist in Britain. Only acknowledged the legal technicalities, avoided the moral question but made it so countries had to create laws concerning slavery if they wanted them to apply.

brazil *

Spain and Portugal came and enslaved indians, they brought africans after disease killed off most indians accelerating the slave trade, largest percentage of all slaves to the new world, urban slaves- domestic service, mining slaves, plantation slaves- coffee sugar cane cotton, skilled slaves could purchase their freedom, laws to protect slaves from unfair treatment but they weren't really enforced, required to be baptized and could read or write, very rebellious- established palmares and maroon societies

Massachusetts *

clergy led (godliness), took the dominant mercantile role (shipping) including slavery from the dutch, 1st english colony to give legal sanction to slavery of all people, enacted laws of child slavery and movement restrictions, slaves had more rights here than other colonies, less blacks lived in NE, skilled workers not plantation, negro election day, boston massacre, prohibits atlantic slave trade and flat out abolishes slavery later on, shay's rebellion

amanirenas *

first century B.C. Queen of Kush who led military expeditions against the Romans after they had conquered Egypt, blind in one eye, removed the head of augustus from a statue and buried it under one of her temples, eventually got to the negotiating table and made a deal that gave them a lot of their land back displays the beginnings of white and black conflict and that whites felt that they were superior while also giving power to women and blacks b/c they were able to defend themselves against the greatest empire in the world

martha washington *

first lady of the Us, destroyed most of George's correspondence to slavery upon his death, frees his slaves as mentioned in his will but not for two years later, doesn't free her own personal slaves, wasn't big on anti slavery and rather cruel

new netherland/new york *

founded by dutch west india commpany as a commercial outpost, england seizes control during anglo-dutch wars and it becomes home of mass burial of slaves, access to freedom was more available, blacks participated in society, half freedom- paying fees each year to dutch but you are free, when england takes control their status gets downgraded to slaves

fort mose *

founded in 1738, first legally recognized and free black community in US, sanctioned by Spanish b/c of location (buffer between Britain) allowed blacks from south carolina to get freedom and self determination, town leader was Francisco Menendez a former slave, successful defenses against British to get freedom but the British managed to take control under Oglethorpe and Menendez leads a successful recapture and then they abandon it b/c no one wants to be in the line of fire anymore and it is pretty beat up blacks were able to be freed under different european powers for their contributions in war and to be used as leverage against one another first instance of freedom and ability of blacks to thwart white attempts in the US

Palmares (Brazil) *

insurgent slaves in Brazil established a community with institutions based on african models, portugese and dutch led raids to try to recapture slaves, 1697 they manage to enter the walled city and the leaders and assistants jump off cliffs instead of returning to slavery, was the most well established slave society in spanish or portugese controlled territories shows that slaves were willing to rebel and could have success on their own. Also shows that they are advanced people b/c they made a fully functioning society that they were able to defend for many years.

rice *

large plantations in South Carolina and the rest of the south for acquiring this cash crop, originally more important than cotton b/c it was easier to grow and took less skill to harvest, used to feed populations and as sources of trade back to europe beginnings of plantation slavery and the importance of cash crops and technological advances. Created numerous purposes for slaves and gave whites a reason to use slaves to do the dirty work.

the negro act of 1740

made it illegal for slaves to grow their own food, earn money, assemble, and travel beyond plantation w/out written pass criminalized black literacy and education made the killing of a white person by slaves a capital crime empowered slaveholding and non salveholding whites alike to whip and kill rebellious slaves w/out trial or punishment beyond 700 pound fee

the great dismal swamp *

maroons for freed and escaped slaves who inhabited the marshlands in Virginia and North Carolina, slaves were originally brought to drain the swamp to make it habitable for colonists but they created hidden settlements for themselves instead, whites left maroons alone as long as they paid in logs, interacted with poor whites to trade and sometimes raided farms to steal resources original idea for black communities and created separation between whites and blacks while showing that they could cooperate without the strains of slavery.

elizabeth key *

one of the first persons of African ancestry in the North American colonies to sue for freedom from slavery and prevail, won her freedom and that of her infant son in the colony of Virginia. Sued on the fact that her father was an Englishman, and that she was a baptized Christian. In response Virginia House of Burgesses passed a law in 1662 establishing that the social status of children born in the colony ("bond" or "free") would follow the social status of their respective mothers. This law differed from English common law, in which children's social status followed the social status of their fathers. . she was initially an indentured servant and sued on the grounds that she had served her time but it was differed because she was declared a slave because of her mother's status as a negro and then she goes for the freedom suit above.

portugal *

pursued the wealth from the atlantic slave trade, used slaves at home and in west africa prior to the discovery of the new world, coastal castles/forts as slave factories defended against european rivals, started a series of wars in west africa using a combination of african and european strategies, took control of coastal regions and established slave trade with locals, introduced africans to brazil after use of local slave pops, big in the slave trade through their alliance with spain and made big money. Also made it competitive by starting wars over slaves and introducing them to new lands.

How revolutionary was the American Revolution for African Americans, free and enslaved?

revolutionary in so far as igniting change, both socially and politically but not successful at enforcing such changes so they didn't have as great of an effect as anticipated. - 3/5 compromise, the word slavery never appears in the constitution, some were granted freedom based on which sides they fought for, states adopt gradual of complete abolition of slavery, Act for the Gradual Abolition of Slavery (1780), founding of black communities- israel hill, common practice to free slaves after death- william lee and george W, recognition for intellect- phillis wheatley, - no people of color were at the constitutional convention but slave holders were, fugitive slave acts, notes on the state of virginia, slave adds to recapture escaped slaves- ona judge, gave power to the south and caused a rift between them and north

pope nicholas V *

roman bishop, Byzantines ask for help against the impending siege by Ottomans, issues the bull "Dum Diversas" authorizing the King of Portugal to attack and enslave Saracens and other enemies of Christ wherever they may be found, settles dispute between spain and portugal over land granting the coast of west africa to the portugese leading to highly profitable muslim-slave trade, sanctions the purchase of black slaves to convert them to catholicism Allowed the portugese to begin the slave trade and made religion a viable excuse to the enslavement of inferior people. He was the most powerful man in the world at the time and he gave strict orders that these actions were allowed and created a precedent.

phillis wheatley *

slave girl in boston, wife of master recognized her talent and nurtured it, first publishes poem in Rhode Island newspaper, whitefield elegy about the boston massacre got her first book of poems to be published in england addressed subjects of religion, nature, revolutionary turmoil, death doubted b/c she was a slave, even had to ask boston if she really was the one who wrote them started the idea that slaves had value other than work, people began to argue that she should be freed and is smarter than even the masters themselves

colonel tye *

slave of African descent in the Province of New Jersey who fought as a Black Loyalist during the American Revolutionary War, fought with a volunteer corps of escaped Virginia Colony slaves in the Ethiopian Regiment and the "Black Brigade" associators. Dunmore's proclamation of freedom for service along with his mistreatment causes him to join army despite an add being out for his capture. Often considered one of the most effective and respected African American soldiers of the Revolution, made significant contributions to the British cause. shows the role of African-Americans during the Revolutionary War and the effectivenes of Dunmore's proclamation, and exploits intensified white anxieties of revolt and served to reinforce anti-abolition sentiment

Compare and Contrast Slave Societies and Societies with Slaves as they existed in the British North American Colonies

slave societies- southern colonies based largely on plantation work, slavery was at the center of politics the economy and social identities, punished resistance and to prevent rebellions and to maintain master-slave relations, south carolina, little contact with whites= cultural autonomy, stono rebellion, cotton, closely monitored, societies with slaves- northeastern colonies with domestic or skilled work, slaves were a part of the economy but not as reliant, punished b/c they were marginal to their economic needs, massachusetts, frequent contact with whites = assimilation, phillis wheatley, servants- william lee, interacted with indentured whites, negro election day, freedom suits similarities- slaves- importation and reliance, violence and oppression, resistance, significant effect on the economy, societal hierarchy just lest emphasis on exploiting it,

slavery in northern colonies

societies with slaves, new england as the center of british north american shipping, race racism and patriarchy in colonial law, european christianity in upholding and sanctifying human bondage in the american colonies

florida colony *

spanish colony that included the slave community fort mose, fought with britain and acted as a buffer, british owned slaves escaped to St.Augustine, stono rebellion- slaves break into armory and kill as many whites as possible before they are caught in their attempts to escape here, only eastern colony of spain which is where the british were colonizing and was territory for them to push britain's buttons with the threat of war on the table. Had several communities for blacks to hide out in and showed that Europeans treat blacks differently and that they can function on their own.

the middle passage *

the journey of slaves from Africa to the Americas, so called because it was the middle portion of the triangular trade route, horrible conditions it was the primary path for the spread of slavery and would remain so until the practice ended. Showcases how little whites cared about blacks b/c they would cram people into the boats and throw the sick or rebellious overboard to die, to the point of changing shark migration patterns

violence *

violence was used to keep slaves in line at the masters discretion, laws such as the negro act of 1740 allowed them to use it whenever they wished. On the flip side, slaves would use violence as means to escape or attempts to rebel- shay's rebellion