The issue of slavery
“Necessary Evil”
Slave Codes Gave owners full control over life –Marriage –Travel –Education (illegal to read) –“Rights”
Slave Resistance Slave revolts were often brutally put down by owners Rarely successful
Gabriel Prosser (VA) -Planned a rebellion in 1800 to create a new democracy -Marched under the banner, “Death or Liberty”
Denmark Vesey (SC) -Plotted rebellion in Charleston in the 1820s. -Won his freedom and began preaching in the local African- American church. -He then used the church to plot.
Nat Turner (VA)
The Nat Turner Revolt 1831 – Nat Turner (“The Prophet”) –Believed he was inspired by God –Led revolt against slave owners in Virginia –57 Whites were killed in twelve days –Revolt was violently put down (55 killed by the state, over 200 killed by white mobs) –Turner hung
Abolition Desired an end to slavery –Based in both Religion and Resistance –Abolitionist Movement Gradualists Immediatists Free Blacks WHAT WAS THE SOUTHERN ARGUMENT FOR SLAVERY??
William Lloyd Garrison –Slavery was a moral, not economic issue –Argued for an immediate emancipation
The Liberator Premiere Issue – January 1, 1831
Frederick Douglass 1845: Wrote The Narrative of the Life Of Frederick Douglass 1847: Began publishing “The North Star” newspaper
Sojourner Truth aka Isabella Baumfree 1850 – wrote “Narrative of Sojourner Truth”