Slavery in America 1609-1865

Origins Slavery has existed since the beginning of human history. People were enslaved for a number of reasons, some of which included being captured in battle, owing a debt, or being born to slave parents. The word slave comes from the Slavic people of eastern Europe who were conquered so often that their name became synonymous with servitude. Most cultures have practiced slavery in one form or another. Prior to the time of exploration, the Arabs of North Africa dominated the slave trade. In fact, the Arabs of North Africa continued to deal in slaves until the early 1900s. Slavery was practiced among some American Indian tribes at the time of the Europeans’ arrival.

Arrival in America Europeans originally enslaved Native Americans; but after many Indians died from diseases, Europeans began importing African slaves who were resistant to European diseases. The first African slaves arrived in America on a Portuguese ship at Jamestown, Virginia, in 1609. Prior to their arrival in America, slaves were usually fed well to make them look healthy. Slaves were auctioned to plantation owners and businessmen and performed a variety of tasks. Slave Auction

Middle Passage The Middle Passage was the leg of the Atlantic slave trade transporting Africans to slave markets in the Americas. It was called the Middle Passage because it was the second of the three-part Triangle Trade route. Slaves were packed tightly on European ships, shackled, and fed very little for the journey of three to five months.. About eighteen million Africans were transported between 1600 and 1800. About three million died.

3 1 1 2 Middle Passage Doorway of No Return El Mino Slave Castle, Ghana 2

Slave Codes Slave codes were laws to control slaves. These codes forbid slaves to learn to read, to own firearms, or to marry a white person. The most severe penalty a slave faced for learning to read was to have a thumb cut off! These laws also made the children born to slaves automatically slaves for life (generational slavery). Slaves wore slave tags. This slave collar was equipped with bells. A slave yolk was used to bind two slaves together. Captured African Slave The ends of a whip were tipped with iron barbs.

Southern Account of Turner’s Rebellion. Slaves Resisted! Slaves did not accept a life of servitude. Slaves resisted by escaping, slowing down on the job, intentionally doing a job wrong, or participating in violent rebellion. One of the most famous slave revolts occurred in Virginia. Nat Turner led seventy other slaves in the killing of fifty-five white men, women, and children. Turner and his men were later captured and hanged. Slaves also resisted by singing spirituals, or religious folk songs that often contained coded messages. Slave spirituals led to the creation of both jazz and the blues. Nat Turner Southern Account of Turner’s Rebellion. Reward Poster

The Underground Railroad The Underground Railroad was a large network of people who helped fugitive slaves escape to the North and to Canada. It is estimated that up to 100,000 slaves escaped the South with the help of “conductors,” or guides. The most famous of these guides was Harriet Tubman. Slaves escaping north would use a series of “stations,” or safe houses as refuge along the route. The paths slaves traveled north were “tracks.” Although slavery was outlawed in the North, escaping slaves were not truly free until they reached Canada. Harriet Tubman Lawn jockeys were used to mark stations on the Underground Railroad. This quilt shows the track pattern that informed escaped slaves this was a “station,” or safe place.

Wheatley’s, Burlington Holden House, Jersey City Croft Farm, Cherry Hill Peter Mott House, Lawnside Bethel AME Church, Greenwich Township In 1745 there were about 4,000 slaves in New Jersey, mostly in the southern part of the state.

The Abolition of Slavery From 1861-1865 Americans in the North and South fought the Civil War over the issue of slavery and state’s rights. More than 600,000 people died. In January 1863, President Lincoln made clear he sought to end slavery when he signed the Emancipation Proclamation. After the war, the Thirteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution. This ended slavery in the United States. Lee ‘s Surrender to Grant Emancipation Proclamation