Slavery in America• Slavery, according to historian and sociologist Orlando Patterson, was social death. • This was especially so of the slavery practiced in the United States from its very founding as a colonial empire in 1609, to 1865, when ended the bloody struggle which abolished the institution and united the nation. • During the three and one-half centuries of slavery's existence, millions of African-descended people were torn from their homes, separated from family and community, and brutally put to the lash for profit.

The slave owner’s attempt to control the minds of their slaves There was an idea that there was a natural superiority of

the white man and the natural inferiority of the black. The slave owner profaned the Portuguese word for

black, “Negro,” and made it “nigger.” It was a brutal, violent word that stung the “SOUL” of

the slave more than the whip did his back . The slaves attempted to take this ugly word and, like the

white man’s religion, made it their own. As much as was possible they robbed it of its ability to spiritually maim them.

The Middle PassageStudent Notes The African slave trade existed for 100 years before the first

Dutch slaver arrived in Jamestown (America) in 1619 with 20 Africans.

England tried to use prisoners, criminals, kidnapped women & children, indentured servants, Native Americans, etc. In the colonies but none provided the quality of free labor needed as Africans.

Between 1619 and 1808 (when Congress prohibited importations of slaves) one million had already been imported to America (Estimates range between 20-50 million dead or enslaved from Africa); this only resulted in slave breeding.

Welcome to AmericaStudent Notes Upon arrival, slaves were prepared (oiled,

wounds covered with tar, clothed, performed acts of agility, etc.) and sold to the highest bidder.

Usually no consideration was given to breaking up a family, separating husbands from wives, children from their parents, etc. ($1,500 was paid for a top-of-the-line field hand)

http://www.eh.net/encyclopedia/wahl.slavery.us.php

Why such a huge demand for slaves after the year 1790?? Increased demand for cotton = increased demand for slaves…

Student Notes

Samuel Slater built the first cotton-spinning machine in the US in 1790 (he stole the idea from England). This meant that cotton could now be quickly and easily turned into yarn. The demand for cotton increased, so the demand for slaves to pick that cotton also increased…

Around the same time, Eli Whitney invented the Cotton Gin (1792--- gin short for engine)- this machine removed the seeds from cotton-- before the “gin,” it would have taken all day to remove the seeds from a pound of cotton. Now one could clean the seeds from 50lbs of cotton in a day. The demand for cotton skyrocketed, and Southern planters scrambled for land to grow cotton, and workers to plant and harvest it…

Growth of Slave Population, 1790-1860

A Day in the Life of “King Cotton”Student Notes

Slaves worked from before sunup to after sundown, year round (whether harvesting or not), were expected to pick 200-300 pounds per day, provided enough food to keep them functioning and housing enough to keep them alive.

The plantation was usually run by a ruthless overseer who managed via the whip (100 lashes for taking a break).

All humanity removed: no school, no religion, gathering, no African Art, language, writing, food. Removal of all things familiar including your name. Relied on spirituals (songs).

RebellionStudent Notes A natural outcome but limited numbers actually

resisted enslavement out of fear (punishment, rewards, unfamiliar)

Abolitionists such as Nat Turner, John Brown, Harriet Tubman and Elijah Lovejoy, risked everything to free the slave.

“Uncle Tom’s Cabin” (1852) written by Harriet Beecher Stowe (a white woman), sold over 300,000 copies in first year and revealed the savagery of slavery as an institution.

The Underground RailroadStudent Notes A network of places (called stations) where

escaped slaves could find help on their quest for freedom south to north (Canada)

Harriet Tubman (had a $40,000 bounty on her head during the Civil War) and other abolitionists (or conductors), both black and white, responsible for approx. 2,000 slaves per year reaching freedom.

Routes of the Underground Railroad

The Underground RailroadEscape from Slavery

Beware of Slave Catchers

CAUTION !!

COLORED PEOPLEOF BOSTON, One & All,

You are hereby respectfully Cautioned and advised, to avoid conversing with the

Watchmen and Police Officers Of Boston,For since the recent ORDER OF THE MAYOR & ALDERMEN,

they are empowered to act as

KIDNAPPERS AND SLAVE CATCHERS,And they have already been actually employed in

KIDNAPPING, CATCHING, and KEEPING SLAVESTherefore, if you value your LIBERTY, and the welfare of the fugitives

among youShame them in every possible manner, as so many HOUNDS on the

track of the most unfortunate of your race.

Keep a Sharp Look Out for KIDNAPPERS, and have TOP EYE open.

Despite this…Student Notes Fill-in By 1857, with 400,000 men owning 4 million

slaves worth over $2 billion, slavery in America had become an ingrained institution, in practice for approximately 240 years, and inseparable from the Southern economy and lifestyle.