Title: Section 1 Blacks in Colonial America
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2African Americans Help Create a New Nation
- Section 1 Blacks in Colonial America
- Section 2 The Revolutionary War Era
- Section 3 Citizenship in the New Nation
- Section 4 African American Culture
3Section 1 Blacks in Colonial America
Main Idea Despite protests, slavery existed in
some form in all the English colonies in North
America, though slaves were treated differently
in various regions.
- Reading Focus
- Why was slavery central to the economy of the
southern colonies? - What role did slaves play in the middle colonies?
- How were slaves treated in the New England
colonies?
4Building Background
To understand the role of African Americans, both
slave and free, in the development of the United
States, we have to remember that the country
began as a cluster of English colonies. By 1700
these colonies could be divided into three groups
characterized more by regional differences than
by similarities. As a result, the accomplishments
and treatment of African Americans varied
dramatically according to the region in which
they lived. In all regions, however, Americas
development as a country was clearly due in part
to African Americans forced labor.
5The Southern Colonies
Slaverys firmest hold in the southern
coloniesNorth and South Carolina, Maryland,
Virginia, and Georgia. By 1708 Virginia imported
1,000 slaves each year South Carolina had black
majority by 1760.
- Plantation system
- Economics ruled south with large profitable
estatesplantations - Grew cash crops for high prices in Europe
- Sold tobacco, rice, cotton, and indigo, a dark
blue dye
- Labor intensive
- Slaves provided labor were the backbone of
southern colonial economy - Without slaves economy would collapse
- More cash crops
- Demand for crops grew planters bought more land,
needed more slaves - Vicious cycle kept institution of slavery strong
in the South for years
6Slaves on Plantations
- Treatment
- Large plantation hundreds of slaves beasts of
burden - Whipped and beaten forced to work six days in
the fields - Many died from exhaustion and malnutrition
- Slept in tiny cabins crammed with people some
only allowed shoes in winter - Brutal overseers supervised
- Strict rules
- Governed behavior by strict rules, needed written
permission to leave plantation - Breaking rules resulted in severe punishments
- Some planters saw themselves as father figures
viewed slaves almost as children such slaves
were not beaten but were still forced to work
long hours with no freedom
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8Slaves on Smaller Southern Farms
- Not everyone lived on plantations
- Majority of farms were small family operations
- Only ten percent of the Souths population lived
on plantations - That ten percent owned ninety percent of the
regions wealth - Slavery not confined to plantations
- Small southern farms had slaves
- Most farmers owned only one or two slaves
- Owners often worked side by side in fields with
slaves shared labor - These slaves not treated as poorly as slaves on
large plantations
9Slave Revolts
- Slaves took action
- As early as 1660s, Virginia slaves planned
revolts against masters some plans discovered
before revolts carried out, others took place
with slaveholders killed - Two slave ship revolts made ships turn back to
Africa
- Fear grew
- Planters feared being in minority some tried to
restrict or ban entry of new slaves - Planters still wanted practice of slavery but in
controlled numbers British refused to halt
profitable slave trade
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11Reading Check
Explain Why did slavery take such a firm hold in
the southern colonies?
Answer(s) The Souths economy was based on
plantation agriculture, and slaves provided the
labor necessary for a plantation to be successful.
12The Middle Colonies
- Slavery permitted
- Middle coloniesDelaware, Pennsylvania, New
Jersey, and New York - Slavery not central to economy
- Economies of colonies
-
- Based on trade, manufacturing not agriculture no
plantations for slaves to work on - Worked construction or in factories, lumber camps
- Big cities
- Highly skilled slaves trained in certain crafts
- Skilled slave could work as mason, shipwright,
goldsmith or glazier
- Indentured servants
- Business owners sought other labor sources
manual labor done by indentured servants - Worked for passage and place to live for set
period of time
13Objections to Idea of Slavery
- Indentured servants used as laborers
- Many in middle colonies objected to idea of
slavery - Two religious groups prominent in Pennsylvania
objected - Quakers and Mennonites
- Members of both groups published works
criticizing slavery - Viewed as evil institution against Gods law
- First official protest
- Came from group of Quakers in 1688 declaring
views against slavery - Germantown residents appalled at thought of
Christians owning slaves - Protest had little widespread effect
- Set precedent for other Quaker and Mennonite
settlements
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15- Treatment of slaves
- Slaves in middle colonies treated poorly
- Highly skilled ones could avoid rough treatment,
but construction and factory workers not spared - Evidence of this found in 1991 in Manhattan grave
excavations
- Remains of old graveyard
- 400 African slaves buried there remains sent for
research - Howard Universitys forensic work revealed slaves
worked to death had deformed muscles and broken
bones - One woman buried with shells and belt of beads
thought to be local noblewoman who had been
kidnapped and sold as slave
16Reading Check
Summarize Why were there fewer slaves in the
middle colonies than in the South?
Answer(s) The middle colonies had no plantations
and thus less need for labor. Indentured servants
did much of the work.
17New England Colonies
- Connecticut, Rhode Island, Massachusetts, and New
Hampshire -
- Slavery less common in the North
- Slaves worked in cities building houses and other
structures - Restrictions placed on their activities still
had more rights than in other areas - Allowances
- Could gather together to socialize
- In places could participate in certain community
events - Held elections for kings and governors these
were prestige positions with no power
18Slavery immoral
- New Englanders opposed
- Many felt slavery immoral protested against it
- Puritan minister Cotton Mather argued in late
1600s that Africans were people who deserved to
be freed refusing to do so was unchristian
- Treatment of slaves
- Treatment better in New England but slavery
remained evil institution - Some worked slaves harshly and limited their
rights - Many northern business owners were active
participants in slave trade transported and sold
captured Africans
19Reading Check
Analyze What criticisms did New Englanders level
against the institution of slavery?
Answer(s) They thought slavery was immoral and
unchristian.
20Section 2 The Revolutionary War Era
Main Idea African Americans played major roles
in the struggle for American independence from
Great Britain, a struggle that led many Americans
to call for an end to slavery.
- Reading Focus
- What caused the growing dispute between Great
Britain and its American colonies? - What freedoms did Americans call for in the late
1700s? - What roles did African Americans play in the
American Revolution?
21Building Background
As African American slaves toiled to help the
American colonies grow, so did the British
colonies toil to keep the British Empire growing.
Over time, however, resentment arose in the
American colonies toward the mother country.
Before long, the colonists rose up in rebellion
and declared their independence from Great
Britain.
22The Growing Dispute with Great Britain
- Several factors influenced conflict between
American colonies and British government - Many economic factors
- Colonies established to bring riches to Great
Britain - British crown wanted as much money as possible
- Passed Navigation Acts as way to get money
- All goods to or from colonies to be transported
on British ships - Goods shipped to colonies must go to Britain
first to be taxed - Colonists did not like regulations regulations
made goods more expensive
23The French and Indian War
- Colonies expensive
- Colonies cost British money
- Fought expensive French and Indian War from 1754
and 1763 - British won the war
- Drove French almost completely out of North
America - Canada became British colony
- Expensive victory
- British now with much larger empire in North
America - Had to pay administrators to run new territories
- Needed more soldiers to defend new territories
- Faced with growing expenses British turned
attention to financial matters
24New Laws
As part of efforts to increase revenue, British
created new taxes. The Sugar Act and the Stamp
Act were examples of fund-raising product taxes.
- Sugar Act
- Taxed sugar and molasses from the West Indies
- Tax very unpopular in the North
- Molasses key ingredient in making rum for export
- Stamp Act
- Colonists must buy government stamps for all
documents - Included contracts, licenses, newspapers, and
playing cards - Colonists angered
- Colonists respond
- Some chose to boycott, refusing to buy British
goods - Fewer sales meant less profit for British
merchants - The Acts remained in force
25Protests
- Dislike of British
- Some colonists felt British troops were a direct
threat to their safety - One active protest led to Boston Massacre after
soldiers fired into crowd - African American Crispus Attucks among five dead
became symbol of revolution
- More protests followed
- Boston Tea Party staged in 1773 as protest
against new tea tax - British responded with stricter laws intended to
restore order in colonies - Plans backfired new laws stirred up colonists to
resist further
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27Reading Check
Summarize Why did the colonists come to resent
the British government?
Answer(s) They felt their rights were being
ignored and they were bring taxed unfairly.
28Calls for Freedom
- Freedom for all
- Protests led to calls for freedom
- Not only colonial independence from Britain
- Some called for end to slavery
- The Outbreak of War
-
- Slavery question raised at First Continental
Congress of 1774 - Called to unify protests led to temporary ban
against slavery to hurt British merchants
- Revolutionary War begins
- April 1775 battles at Lexington and Concord
- Beginning of Revolutionary War, fight for
independence from Britain
- Congress convened
- Second Continental Congress convened
- First actions to raise armed forces to fight
British
29The Declaration of Independence
- Many colonial leaders felt time to officially
declare independence - Result was writing of the Declaration of
Independence - Written by Thomas Jefferson in 1776
- Stated that all people were equal and had certain
rights - Since King had violated those rights, colonists
could rebel - Jeffersons first draft included one other reason
to rebel against George III - King responsible for slavery in colonies
- Jeffersons vocal opposition to slavery angered
fellow southerners - They refused to approve Declaration with this
passage included - Criticism of slavery removed from the Declaration
- Document sent to King George without mention of
slavery
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31- Growing Opposition to Slavery
- Along with protests against British rule, some
colonists protested slavery as well - Made no sense to fight for own freedom while
denying slaves theirs - Paine and Franklin spoke in favor of banning
slavery
- Historys voices
- James Otis, leader of anti-British protests
wrote - Can any logical inference in favor of slavery be
drawn - Eloquent protests in favor of eliminating slavery
did little - The practice of slavery continued and life
remained same for African Americans in colonies
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33Reading Check
Sequence What steps did the colonists take in
declaring their independence?
Answer(s) They met at the First Continental
Congress, fought the British in Lexington and
Concord before issuing the Declaration of
Independence, and then met at the Second
Continental Congress.
34African Americans in the American Revolution
- African Americans volunteered to fight when war
broke out - Colonists, mainly in the South, feared prospect
of armed slaves many white northerners argued
slaves should have freedom after war if the
slaves fight against British - African American Patriots
- Virginia allowed free blacks to enlist by 1775
Washington accepted black soldiers with previous
military experience in 1776 - Congress officially authorized recruitment of
slave or free black men in 1777 - With that authorization several states began
active recruitment
35Black Soldiers
- Not all by choice
- Some slaves sent by owners to fight in their
places owners preferred to risk lives of slaves
rather than own necks - Some free blacks hired to fight in place of
others - Majority were in search of freedom state
governments promised freedom to slaves who
fought slaves enlisted by the hundreds
- Numbers of soldiers
- Historians estimate as many as one quarter of
soldiers were black - At Bunker Hill, five percent of troops were black
- Soldiers of note Peter Salem and James Armistead
- Many blacks distinguished themselves in battle
36Black Soldiers in the British Army
- British also recruited black soldiers
- British Governor Lord Dinsmore promised freedom
to slaves who ran away and reached the British
army - Tens of thousands of slaves took advantage of
offer - They left farms and plantations
- Flocked to British lines
- 1,000 or so slaves took up arms and fought with
British army - Far more (20,000) contributed to British war
effort as support, serving as nurses, cooks, and
general laborers
37After the War
- Surrender
- Revolutionary War continued for eight years
- Major victory by Americans at Yorktown in 1781
- Led British to finally surrender
- Treaty of Paris signed in Paris on September 3,
1783 - War was over
- Freedom won
-
- No longer colonists of Britain
- Many now called for freedom earned by African
Americans during the war - Southern slave owners determined to maintain
slave system - Freedom just a word to 680,000 African Americans
38Reading Check
Explain How did both the Patriots and the
British try to win the support of slaves?
Answer(s) Both sides promised freedom to slaves
in exchange for their support.
39Section 3 Citizenship in the New Nation
Main Idea Debates over the morality of slavery
and opportunities for free blacks were major
issues in the years after the American Revolution.
- Reading Focus
- How did peoples attitudes toward African
Americans change after the American Revolution? - What opportunities were available in free black
communities? - How was the question of slavery addressed in the
writing of the Constitution?
40Building Background
By the time George Washington became the first
president in 1789, the countrys population had
reached about 3.5 million. Of that population,
about 730,000 peoplenearly 20 percentwere
black. With the signing of the Constitution and
the creation of a new government, black people in
the North gained new rights and privileges. In
the South, however, the institution of slavery
continued, and black people were not considered
citizens at all.
41Changing Attitudes toward African Americans
- New government took shape after American
Revolution - Basis was the state
- Each state wrote own constitution and created own
system of government - Articles of Confederation tied states together
loosely - Weak federal government under the Articles
- Most power rested with states
- As new government was forming, some Americans
were inspired by passion for liberty and so
worked for changes in society
42Antislavery Sentiments
- Effect of Revolution
- Renewed call for end to slavery
- In part result of freeing of slaves who fought in
Revolution - Most states freed their slaves who fought against
the British - Opponents to slavery felt all others should be
freed as well
- Quakers
- In 1775 formed the first antislavery societies,
groups devoted to the elimination of slavery - After the war many more societies formed
- Some societies led by influential figures such as
John Jay, who was later first chief justice of
the United States
43Antislavery Goals
- Different approaches
- Some published antislavery writings hoping to
change the minds of people still supporting
slavery - Others tried to end slavery by moving African
Americans out of their states - Groups and individuals worked tirelessly
- Two prominent figures
- Benjamin Rush, signer of the Declaration of
Independence Anthony Benezet, Protestant leader
from Philadelphia - Both men active before, but increased their
antislavery efforts after the Revolution - Both wrote passionately in favor of freeing
slaves from their bonds
44Northern States Ban Slavery
- Efforts of antislavery activists started to pay
off states in the North began banning slavery - 1780 Pennsylvania constitution had instructions
for eventually abolishing slavery - Also in 1780 Massachusetts issued a new
constitution the stated, All men are born free
and equal a 1783 court ruled the statement
applied to slaves as well as people who had been
born free - Slavery soon disappeared in Massachusetts as a
result of ruling - Other northern states would soon ban slavery as
well slavery essentially abolished in North by
1800 - No southern states banned slavery in the 1780s
some took small steps in that direction - Virginia and North Carolina included laws in
their constitution that made emancipation of
slaves easier for slaveholders
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46Congressional Involvement
- Congress got involved in fight against slavery in
1780 - Passed Northwest Ordinance in 1787
- Set of laws written to govern the settlement of
the vast Northwest Territory
- Newly added to the U.S. territory west of the
original American colonies and north and west of
Ohio River - Northwest Ordinance prohibited anyone in
territory to own slaves - This was major victory for slavery opponents
47Reading Check
Summarize How did feelings about slavery change
after the American Revolution?
Answer(s) Many Americans began to oppose slavery
and worked to end it.
48Free Blacks
Despite prevalence of slavery, not all African
Americans in the new United States were slaves.
There were substantial communities of free
blacks, both in the North and in the South.
- Becoming Free
- Gained freedom in variety of ways
- Included doing military service release by
owners state law - Others bought their freedom
- Escape
- A significant number of slaves were not granted
freedom they escaped to it, running away from
their owners - Scholars estimate about 1,000 slaves ran away to
Caribbean or other regions each year
49Free Black Communities
- Rural and Urban
- Most free blacks lived in rural communities in
the South and worked in agriculture - Northern cities such as New York, Boston, and
Philadelphia had large free black communities - Boston in 1790 could boast an entirely free black
population all 750 black residents were free
- Few Rights for Free Blacks
- Not allowed to vote considered inferior by many
white people - Opportunities were few, but some made their own
- Paul Cuffe, a black Boston shipper owned several
ships and a thriving business - Launched impractical plan to help bring free
blacks back to Africa to live plan too costly
50Reading Check
Elaborate What made life difficult for free
blacks in the early United States?
Answer(s) They could not vote and many people
considered them inferior.
51Slavery and the Constitution
By 1787 many American leaders felt the Articles
of Confederation were not working. They believed
country needed a more powerful national
government. Delegates met for the Constitutional
Convention.
- The Question of Importing Slaves
- After much debate, the new Constitution did not
protect the slave trade forever, but guaranteed
that it could continue for 20 more years. - The Question of Representation
- Would slaves be counted as part of a states
populationCongressional representation in part
to be determined by states slave population - After much debate settled on Three-Fifths
Compromise, every five slaves in state to be
counted as three people - Reactions to the Constitution
- States ratified new Constitution in 1790
antislavery groups and free blacks least
satisfied disliked runaway slave clause and
unhappy that slavery not banned outright
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53Reading Check
Explain Why were many African Americans
dissatisfied with the Constitution?
Answer(s) They did not feel it adequately
addressed their rights and needs.
54Section 4 African American Culture
Main Idea The African Americans of the period
following the American Revolution created a
unique culture that blended traditions from
African with new ideas.
- Reading Focus
- How did black Americans manage to keep African
culture alive? - What role did religion play in African American
culture? - What led to the creation of African American
schools? - What were some advances made by African
Americans?
55Building Background
Whether enslaved on plantations or living in free
black communities, African Americans formed a
distinct culture in the years after the
Revolution. Inspired by their African roots and
shaped by their experiences in America, this
culture became a key influence in the lives and
expectations of African American citizens.
56Keeping African Culture Alive
- Black customs in early U.S. in part continuations
of older African traditions - Some plantation owners alarmed by customs feared
could inspire slaves to fight for freedom - Owners refused to allow slaves to practice
traditional ways - Maintained in secret
- In public behavior was obedient in private
customs were maintained - Quilts had African designs song and dance
reflected Africa - Words and names survived tote probably came from
Bantu word - Gullah people of South Carolina and Georgia still
speak a creole, or combined, language - The Gullah also make same foods and tell same
types of stories as ancestors in Africa did
57Reading Check
Identify What were some of the aspects of
African culture kept alive in the United States?
Answer(s) Crafts, dance, music, food, language
58The Role of Religion
- Christianity and Slavery
- 1600s and 1700s many Christians used arguments
from Bible to justify owning slaves - Not all whites supported these interpretations of
the Bible many thought owning slaves immoral
and unchristian supported love of all people - Heated debates flared throughout the 1700s
- Baptism of Slaves
- Despite arguments, nearly all felt slaves should
be baptized as Christians - Slaves forbidden to practice their former
religions, including Islam - Slave owners limited religious education because
of passages concerning slavery and freedom - Slaves could not gather in large groups, even for
prayer meetings slave owners feared they could
use time to plan revolts
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60African American Churches
- Prohibited from practicing own religion, still
slaves not welcome in white Christian churches - Before early 1800s only a few churches where
African Americans could worship mostly in North,
they sat in special balconies - Lemuel Hayes exception became pastor to white
Christians in Vermont - Denied access to white churches, blacks formed
own congregations - In the South, formed independent Baptist churches
- The African Methodist Episcopal (AME) Church grew
out of one founded by Richard Allen in 1787 - These congregations and their ministers formed
the core of black freedom efforts - AME first of many churches formed to meet
spiritual needs of African Americans today black
churches are usually Protestant Christian and
spend much time dealing with issues of social
welfare
61Reading Check
Identify Cause and Effect Why did African
Americans form their own churches?
Answer(s) They were not allowed to worship in
most white churches.
62African American Schools
Many African Americans felt education was best
way to improve their lives and many black parents
sought to education their children. However most
white schools did not allow black students to
attend.
- Citizens Help
- Paul Cuffe built a school for his and other
children Primus Hall let students meet in his
own home - Black citizens of Boston built their own school
after city refused permission
- Whites Helped
- Quaker schools in the North accepted black
students - In the South some white teachers agreed to teach
reading and writing
- Fears Grew
- White southerners feared power of education more
laws passed against teaching blacks to read and
write - Thirst for education continued black men did get
degrees
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64Reading Check
Elaborate Why do you think many whites wanted to
limit education for black students?
Answer(s) They were afraid that education would
inspire black students to want more rights and
freedoms.
65African American Achievements
- Literature
- African American writers of the Revolutionary War
period left behind works that are still admired
today - Lucy Terry first known African American poet one
surviving poem tells of massacre near Deerfield,
Massachusetts in 1746 - Phillis Wheatley, young Boston slave, was first
to have poetry published - Learned to read and write English after being
kidnapped in Africa and brought to America around
1760 taught by wife and daughter of wealthy
master - First poem published around 1767 first book of
poetry published in London 1773 hailed as work
of genius
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67Science and Medicine
- Many advances
- Benjamin Banneker greatest black scientist of the
Revolutionary War period - Born free and educated at Quaker school became
skilled in math and engineering - Received praise from Thomas Jefferson for his
almanacs - Best remembered for his survey of Washington,
D.C.
- Contemporaries
- One of Bannekers skilled contemporaries was
James Durham, the first black doctor in the U.S.
- Born into slavery learned basic medicine from
his first owner completed his training with
another owner - Eventually bought his freedom and moved to
Philadelphia to set up successful practice
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69Reading Check
Develop What advantages did Phillis Wheatley,
Benjamin Banneker, and James Durham have over
most blacks?
Answer(s) They all received some education and
were able to succeed as a result.