1. Section 10.3: The African American Community

2. A. Building the African American Community 1.Slaves created a community where an indigenous culture developed, influencing all aspects of Southern life. 2.Masters had to learn to live with the two key institutions of African American community life: the family and the church.

3. B. Slave Families 1.Slave marriages were: a.not recognized by law b.frequently not respected by masters c.a haven of love and intimacy for the slaves 2.Parents gave children a supportive and protective kinship network. 3.Slave families were often split up. 4.Separated children drew upon supportive networks of family and friends.

4. C. African American Religion 1.Slaves were not permitted to practice African religions, though numerous survivals did work their way into the slaves folk culture. 2.The first and second Great Awakenings introduced Christianity to many slaves. 3.In the 1790s, African American churches began emerging. 4.Whites hoped religion would make the slaves obedient. 5.Slaves found a liberating message that strengthened their sense of community and offered them spiritual freedom.

5. D. Freedom and Resistance 1.Most slaves understood that they could not escape bondage. 2.About 1,000 per year escaped, mostly from the upper South. 3.Running away and hiding in the swamps or woods for about a week and then returning was more common.

6. E. Slave Revolts 1.A few slaves organized revolts. 2.Gabriel Prosser and Denmark Vesey organized large-scale conspiracies to attack whites in Richmond and Charleston that failed. 3.Nat Turner led the most famous slave revolt in Southampton County, Virginia in 1831. 4.Turner used religious imagery to lead slaves as they killed 55 whites. 5.After Turners revolt, white southerners continually were reminded by the threat of slave insurrection.

7. F. Free African Americans 1.By 1860, there were nearly 250,000 free African Americans, mainly working as tenants or farm laborers. 2.In cities, free African American communities flourished but had a precarious position as their members lacked basic civil rights.