1. S LAVERY N OTES

2. T HE S TART OF S LAVERY Slavery started in North America in the 1620’s in the colony of Jamestown. These slaves were brought to America on boats that were designed to carry cargo that was not alive. Often times up to 400 slaves were transported at one time. This voyage across the Atlantic Ocean was a very tough and dangerous journey in which many slaves died. Most of these African slaves were purchased by slave traders from the African tribes that had already captured them in war.

4. R ISE OF THE “C OTTON K ING ” Prior to the Cotton Gin, Slavery was on the decline. Tobacco and Indigo prices dropped and therefore Planters were trying to plant crops that needed less labor. Prices of slaves decreased 1793 – The development of the cotton gin revitalized southern agriculture. Eli Whitney (Northerner) invented the Cotton Gin A worker could clean 50 times more cotton a day with the gin. Consequences of the Cotton Gin: Farmers wanted to grow more cotton Increased number of slaves needed for labor 1808 – Congress made it illegal to bring slaves to the US Southern Planters traded slaves within the country The Deep South depended on slaves for labor Slaves became more valuable because of their key role in picking the cotton. The South began to rely on the production of one crop The southern economy relied on the production of cotton

5. T HE C OTTON K ING Even though cotton was profitable it accounted for a small percentage of the nation’s economy. The state of Pennsylvania had more manufactured goods and economic impact on the nation then the entire south Cotton that was picked by slaves often was sold to textile plants in the North or to Great Britain. The south did not create processing plants because they believed that they made more money harvesting the crop.

6. T HE S LAVE S YSTEM Slaves were viewed as property – not as people. Bought and sold at auctions Most enslaved African Americans lived in the rural south on farms or plantations. Planters: Farmers who owned 20 or more slaves Poor living conditions Slaves filled a variety of jobs for their owner: Physical Labor House Work/Nanny/Butler Skilled Jobs – Blacksmith, etc.

7. T REATMENT OF S LAVES Slaves need to be controlled, as a result rules or laws were made called “ Slave Codes ”. (1830 – 1860 stricter codes) A slave inherits the condition of it’s mother. In other words a slave would be a slave no matter who the father was. Slaves were slaves for life. Slaves could not assemble freely. Slaves were the property of the slave owner. It was illegal to educate a slave. You could not teach them to read or write. Made it less likely for a slave to rebel. Slaves could not make contracts. There was no such thing as a legal marriage of slaves. There was no freedom of movement for the slaves. Slaves could be punished by their master, even put to death.

8. T HE U NDERGROUND R AILROAD Underground Railroad : A system to help slaves, establish by Abolitionists, to help aid escaping slaves to the North and Canada. A network of “safe houses” owned by free blacks and whites who opposed slavery. Escaping from slavery was difficult. Most escaped from Upper Southern States. Most would runaway for a few days to visit relatives but would return to their plantations eventually Famous American Americans who escaped: Harriet Tubman – Returned to the south 19 times, freeing almost 300 slaves Frederick Douglas – Escaped slavery and started speaking against slavery Slave Revolts Most revolts were stopped prior to even starting Nat Turner’s Rebellion – (1831) Nat believed that God told him to end slavery. He led a revolt in Virginia where the revolt killed about 60 whites were killed. Over 100 innocent slaves were executed along with Nat as a result of the revolt.

10. D EBATE O VER S LAVERY Abolition – A complete end to slavery. Benjamin Franklin was the first president of an organized abolitionist society Abolitionists referred to the Declaration of Independence and pointed out that we fought on the bases of “liberty” Not all abolitionists agreed on what equality for African Americans and whites should look like. Liberia – Colonize in West Africa; eventually about 12,000 African Americans move to Liberia Freedom for slaves and more rights for women Elimination of slavery but limited rights to freed slaves Immediate emancipation and total equality Emancipation – Freeing of the slaves Some northerners feared the freed slaves would take jobs in the North. They believed that the freed slaves would be willing to work for less money and would gain the jobs. The south saw slavery as a vital piece of their economy: Cotton Gin increased the ability to clean the cotton More laborers were needed to pick the cotton The south was dependant on the production of cotton. The majority of the southern economy came from the cotton industry. The South viewed slavery as an issue that the North should stay out of: Congress refused to discuss slavery between 1836 and 1844 Both the North and the South saw it as easier to ignore than deal with. John Quincy Adams as a member of the House tried to stop the expansion of slavery but failed. The North The South