Chapter 7 Free Black People in Antebellum America

I. Demographics of Freedom Three regions to consider The North The Upper South The Deep South Most free blacks lived in the Upper South Few in the Deep South

The Slave, Free Black, and White Population of the United States in 1830 Map 7–1. The Slave, Free Black, and White Population of the United States in 1830 This map does not distinguish the slave from the free black population of the free states, although the process of gradual emancipation in several northeastern states was still underway and some black northerners remained enslaved.

Demographics Free African Americans in 1860 The North 226,152 The Upper South 224,963 The Deep South 36,955 Total 488,070 Total Population U.S. 26,957,471

The Free Black, Slave, and White Population by Region, 1860. Figure 7–2. The Free Black, Slave, and White Population by Region, 1860. These pie charts compare the free black, slave, and white populations of the North, upper South, and lower South in 1860. Note the near balance of the races in the lower South.

II. The Jacksonian Era Transportation revolution Steamboats Turnpikes and Canals National Road Erie Canal Railroads

The Jacksonian Era (cont.) Market revolution Commercial farming Factory production Reform movements Universal white manhood suffrage

The Jacksonian Era cont. Mass Political Parties – universal white suffrage, the right to vote Nullification Crisis 1832-1833, S.C. attempted to nullify or block a US tax on imports President Jackson protected states rights in taxation crisis Whigs vs. Democrats Democrats appealed to southern slave owners Some Whigs opposed the slavery system but did not defend the rights of African-Americans

III. Limited Freedom in the North Fugitive slave law, 1793 Seized and returned to slaveholder Kidnapped and enslaved free blacks

Limited Freedom in the North (cont.) Disfranchisement Common in the North Except New England Property qualifications to deny right to vote Strongest in the Old Northwest Universal manhood suffrage evolved from one of class to one of race Before Civil War, ninety-three percent of northern blacks live in states where right to vote was either denied or severely limited

Limited Freedom in the North (cont.) Segregation Exclusionary legislation in Old Northwest Pervasive discrimination victimized all Hotels, taverns, public transportation Atmosphere of hate caused African Americans to distrust white people Ghettos around the country” Boston ~ “Nigger Hill” Cincinnati ~ “Little Africa” Southern visitors argued blacks better off as slaves

IV. Black Communities: The Urban North Urban neighborhoods Resilient families Poverty Class divisions Church and volunteer organizations Education

Black Communities: The Urban North (cont.) Black family Two-parent households common in 1820 Single-parent trend became increasingly common Headed by women High male mortality rate

Black Communities: The Urban North (cont.) Employment Rising European immigration filled jobs Young black men excluded from apprenticeships Violence used against employers Led to deskilling of blacks Menial labor Low wages Unemployment common

Black Communities: The Urban North (cont.) Black elite Ministers, doctors, lawyers, and undertakers Carpenters, barbers, waiters, and coachman Black institutions and culture Anti-slavery movement Racial justice Bridge to sympathetic white people

Cool Down Explain why many people felt that slaves had better lives than free blacks? Who do you feel had it worse?

V. African-American Institutions First appeared during the revolutionary era, then increased and multiplied. Schools Mutual aid organizations Newspapers and journals Theaters

African-American Institutions (cont.) Black churches Spoke against slavery and racial oppression Many remained affiliated with white churches Many northern blacks attended white churches Segregated, separate Sunday schools for black children Took communion after white people African Methodist Episcopal Church (AME) 17,000 members in U.S. and Canada

African-American Institutions (cont.) Public schools Tax-supported public schools started in Massachusetts in 1827 Racially segregated in the North between 1820-1860 Believed black children lacked mental capacity Lowered the quality of education Feared black students attracted more blacks to district Many black children excluded from public schools

Anti-Slavery Almanac In 1834 a white mob in Canterbury, Connecticut attacked a school for “colored girls” that had been established by a white woman named Prudence Crandall. This drawing, published in 1839 by abolitionists, dramatizes the incident.

African-American Institutions (cont.) White people were reluctant to spend tax dollars on black schools Lack of funds meant poor education or none at all White teachers were paid less for teaching in black schools Black leaders divided on education: 1845 Mass. Integrated public schools, except Boston 1855 Boston integrated Most northern schools remained segregated By 1860 most colleges accepted black students

VI. Free Blacks: The Upper South Family ties to slaves Increased suffering for those enslaved The sale south of friends and loved ones Gained a reputation for harboring fugitives Greater risk of being enslaved An assumption of slavery in most states Problems traveling, congregating, owning firearms Greater exclusion than northern counterparts Hotels, trains, parks, hospitals, etc.

Free Blacks: The Upper South (cont.) Employment Urban areas before 1850 Less competition from European immigrants Most free black men were unskilled laborers or waiters Most free black women washed clothes or worked as domestic servants Schools No racial integration and no public funding Most black children received no formal education Churches and individuals provided sporadic opportunities

VII. Free Blacks: The Deep South No revolutionary rhetoric nor changing economy Fewer manumissions Usually mixed-race children Three-caste system in Deep South Whites, free blacks, and slaves Strong ties between free blacks and former masters Loans, jobs, and protection cemented this bond Better off economically than free black people in other regions Half live in cities Stronger position in skilled trades Increased conflict and tension among white skilled workers

Cool Down Why do you think Black schools were not properly funded? Why do you think white slave owners would not want black people to be educated?