The American Civil War (1861-1865) Who was involved? “American negroes are the only people in the history of the world, so far as I know, that ever became free without any effort of their own…” – U.S. Historian 1928 We will prove otherwise!

The American Civil War So the question is did African Americans play a major role in the war/the gaining of their freedom?

African Americans & The Civil War Early resistance Throughout the years many slaves acted as if they were slow or stupid – why? They would fake they were sick, injure the livestock, or break tools (making it look accidental) Nat Turner’s Revolt (1831) Virginia preacher (slave) Said had vision from God to revolt Ultimately unsuccessful Around 60 whites & 100 African Americans died (not all died during the revolt, but rather in angry aftermath from white mobs) Turner & 13 others were executed

African Americans & The Civil War Underground Railroad A major method of resisting slavery & gaining freedom was done by running away Slaves headed north into free states or into Canada Had to avoid bounty hunters Major figure = Harriet Tubman Escaped slave herself Led over 300 slaves to safety

Abolitionists & Newspapers Many African Americans worked for & were editors of abolitionist newspapers David Walker – Free African American Apart of 1st African American newspaper, Freedom’s Journal Published Walker’s Appeal This called for slaves to act out against their slave owners $1,000 reward for Walker dead & $10,000 alive Let’s not forget Frederick Douglass too… Abolitionist/author/editor/escaped slave

Songs & Folk Tales http://www.osblackhistory.com/songs.php

Take It To Court Dred Scott v. Sanford (1857) Was a slave in the south & moved into northern states of Illinois & Wisconsin w/ his master These were slave states & so he sued for his freedom (since he had lived there for over 2 yrs) Went all the way to the Supreme Court Decision: "had no rights which the white man was bound to respect; and that the negro might justly and lawfully be reduced to slavery for his benefit. He was bought and sold and treated as an ordinary article of merchandise and traffic, whenever profit could be made by it." -- Chief Justice Taney

Take It To The Battlefields Southern Slaves ran away to the north There was also a significant population of free African Americans already living in the north When the Civil War broke out, who do you think they fought for? The South or the North? Over 180,000 fought for the Union Army (still more fought in the Navy, around 19,000) By the way Lincoln acknowledged African Americans by stating that the war could not have been won w/o their military contributions…