2. Slave Resistance and Abolition
4/12/2018
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3. Slave Resistance
Abolition of Slavery

4. Slave Resistance
Slave resistance occurred regularly from the 16th through 19th cent
These forms of resistance took many different forms:
Property destruction
Maintaining traditional culture
Manipulation of overseers/owners
Running Away
Acts of violence/revolts

5. Slave Resistance Running away was sometimes a temporary
Used as a negotiating tool, to see family, or simply get away from the horrors of slavery
Some runaways banded together and formed what are known as Maroon Societies
Maroons ranged from a few freedpeople to more than 30,000
These were most common in the Caribbean and Brazil, but present throughout the entire Western Hemisphere

7. Slave Resistance Full out acts of violence and revolt were common
Sometimes would be small and contained and other times be widespread and organized
Some revolts were looking to simply free themselves and their family
Some revolts were well organized and sought to bring about the end of slavery in their region and globally

9. Abolition of Slavery
1780 – 1890 chattel slavery lost its legitimacy and was largely ended
Multiple strands of anti-slavery thinking:
Secular = slavery is a violation of natural rights and Enlightenment values
Religious = slavery is amoral; a “crime in the sight of God”
Economic = slavery is not necessary for economic progress; countries can be successful with paid labor
Political = slavery is unwise because obviously slaves aren’t content and could rise up and revolt

10. Public Meeting Featuring an Abolitionist Speaker
Abolition of Slavery
Most powerful abolitionist movements in Britain
Growing pressure on governments leads to action
Techniques included:
Pamphlets  featuring descriptions of slavery
Petitions to Parliament
Lawsuits
Boycotts of slave-produced sugar
Public meetings  most of which featured testimony of former slaves
Public Meeting Featuring an Abolitionist Speaker

11. Abolition of Slavery
1807 = Britain ended the sale of slaves within its empire
1834 Britain freed all remaining slaves
British naval vessels patrolled the Atlantic, intercepted illegal slave ships, and freed the people on board
Other countries followed suit over the next half century

12. Abolition of Slavery Abolition was not easy
Plantation owners fiercely resisted the efforts of abolitionists
Both European and African slave traders resisted abolitionist
Most intense resistance to abolition and persistence of slavery in the southern United States
Took a WAR to end slavery!

13. Abolition of Slavery
Economic and political lives of former slaves did not improve dramatically at all
Often could not find work or found work, but were paid VERY little
No political equality  in many places, former slaves couldn’t vote and had to live with harsh segregation laws
Former slaves had to deal with persistent racism, discrimination, and violence

14. Louisiana Black Codes
No public meetings or congregations of negroes shall be allowed within said parish after sunset; but such public meetings and congregations may be held between the hours of sunrise and sunset, by the special permission in writing of the captain of patrol

15. Louisiana Black Codes
Every negro is required to be in the regular service of some white person, or former owner, who shall be held responsible for the conduct of said negro
No negro who is not in the military service shall be allowed to carry fire-arms, or any kind of weapons, within the parish, without the special written permission of his employers, approved and indorsed by the nearest and most convenient chief of patrol