1. SLAVERY IN THE UNITED STATES

2. BEGINNINGS – THE ATLANTIC SLAVE TRADE The Spanish and the Portuguese were the first to bring slaves into America during the 1500s The British, Dutch, and the French soon followed suit There were trading post along the western coast of Africa Africans from the coast would travel into inner Africa and kidnap people from their villages to sell to the Europeans These Africans would sell their captives for guns and other goods The captured Africans were then loaded onto ships for the long ride across the Atlantic

3. THE MIDDLE PASSAGE Somewhere 15-20% of the slaves died on their way to the Americas Most of the slaves were brought to Brazil or the Caribbean Islands

4. TRIANGLE TRADE

5. SLAVERY IN THE COLONIES Slavery has always existed Many Christians in ancient time kept people as slaves but would later free them when the slave became a Christian After wars, the losers were often used as slaves, but for only a few years The slavery that began in the colonies was a new, harsher form of slavery Slavery became important in the southern colonies because of the plantation system These huge rice, tobacco, and sugar farms depended on slave labor Many colonies began passing laws saying that just because a person got baptized that didn’t mean they were free Other laws said that children of slaves were also slaves People became slaves for life

6. REASONS FOR SLAVERY Slavery came to be restricted to only those of African descent English colonists believed they were superior to Africans Others believed that the colonists were actually helping the Africans by teaching them Christianity and how to be civilized Some argued that slavery had always existed throughout history, so it was the natural order “Never before has the black race of Central Africa, from the dawn of history to the present day, attained a condition so civilized and so improved, not only physically, but morally and intellectually” - John C. Calhoun

7. SLAVE CODES After a few rebellions, the slave owners created slave codes in an attempt to control the slaves These said that slaves could not meet in large numbers, own weapons, or leave the plantations without permission They also made it illegal for slaves to learn how to read or write Slave owners would not be charged for murder if they killed one of their slaves

8. SLAVERY AND THE CONSTITUTION Slavery was ultimately outlawed in the northern states Southern delegates at the Constitutional Convention wanted slaves to be counted when calculating how much representation a state could have They came up with the 3/5 compromise Slaves would be counted as 3/5 a person when counting a states population – 500 slaves would be counted as 300 people This was a blow to the antislavery movement because the Constitution said that slavery was ok The delegates also decided to end the African slave trade by the year 1808 Slave trade within the states was allowed to continue, though

9. AFRICAN CULTURAL INFLUENCES Many slaves on the plantations kept their African customs alive They would make African crafts and speak their native language of Gullah Rhythmic drums were used for communication in Africa and they later found their way into American music of the South The banjo was an African instrument that made it’s way into American folk music The slaves would often sing spirituals in a call and response fashion while working in the fields

10. LIFE OF A SLAVE Many slave families were forced apart when a family member would be sold away Most slaves were actually treated very well by their masters They were considered a valuable piece of property However, when a slave did act out they would often be punished The most common way was to whip the slaves In general, the slave owners in the more northern states were nicer to their slaves than the slave owners in the deep south

11. SLAVE REBELLIONS The most famous slave rebellion was the Nat Turner Rebellion in 1831 Nat Turner said he had a vision one night to kill a bunch of white people By the time his rebellion was over, 60 whites had been killed Many slaves were put to death because of the rebellion, many of them innocent In 1839, slaves aboard the slave trade ship Amistad rebelled by killing the captain and order the crew to sail back to Africa They actually sailed to the States Former President John Quincy Adams spoke at their trial and helped them all gain their freedom

12. THE EXTENSION OF SLAVERY In 1819, there were 11 slave states and 11 free states Missouri wanted to join the Union as a slaves state Northern politicians didn’t want this to happen because it would upset the balance in Congress and slave states would have more power Southerners feared that their slaves and economy were being threatened Luckily for the North, Maine stepped in and also applied to join the Union as a free state, keeping the balance in Congress

13. THE MISSOURI COMPROMISE Senator Henry Clay came up with the Missouri Compromise This said that Maine could enter the Union as a free state and Missouri could enter as a slave state It also said the Louisiana Territory north of the southern border of Missouri would be free of slavery It also said the slave owners had the right to pursue runaway slaves in the North and return them to the South Most politicians saw the Compromise as merely putting a band aid on an issue that will only get worse

15. THE FIGHT AGAINST SLAVERY There had always been people against slavery Alexander Hamilton and Benjamin Franklin were outspoken critics of the institution Some people against slavery were colonizationists They wanted to send slaves back to Africa thinking it would be better for them But most slaves had been born in America and did not want to go to Africa The Second Great Awakening saw a rise of abolitionists, reformers who wanted to abolish or end slavery

16. ABOLITIONISTS “I will be as harsh as truth, as uncompromising as justice on this subject, I do not wish to think, or speak, or write, with moderation. I am in earnest – I will not equivocate – I will not excuse – I will not retreat a single inch – and I will be heard” – William Lloyd Garrison He launched an abolitionist newspaper called the Liberator where he advocated for full political rights of African Americans Some abolitionists wanted emancipation, or the freeing of slaves, without compensation More moderates thought that the slave owners should be paid for releasing their slaves

17. OTHER ABOLITIONISTS One of the most powerful voices for the abolitionist movement was Frederick Douglass He was born into slavery and broke the laws by learning to read He later escaped to the North where he risked being forced back to the South by speaking against slavery He also started an abolitionist newspaper called the North Star He was the first African American to be invited to the White House “The white children could tell their ages. I could not tell why I ought to be deprived of the same privilege.” – Frederick Douglas