1. Slavery and Abolition
Chapter 8
Section 2

2. James forten
James Forten – free African American opposed to having freed people moving back to Africa
became a successful sailmaker
“Here I have dwelt until I am nearly sixty years of age, and have brought up and Philadelphia’s free educated a family Yet some ingenious gentlemen have recently discovered that I am still an African; that a continent three thousand miles, and more, from the place where I was born, is my native country. And I am advised to go home Perhaps if I should only be set on the shore of that distant land, I should recognize all I might see there, and run at once to the old hut where my forefathers lived a hundred years ago.”

3. Abolitionists Speak Out
1820s – more than 100 antislavery societes
Advocate for resettlement of blacks in Africa
Free blacks consider America their home.
“We are natives of this country. We only ask that we be treated as well as foreigners.”
Whites joined in the fight for abolition

4. William Lloyd Garrison and David Walker
Started newspaper The Liberator
Pushed for immediate emancipation
Founded New England Anti-Slavery Society and the national American Anti-Slavery Society
Some white supported abolition but hated Garrison
He attacked the government and churches for not disapproving of slavery
David Walker
1829 -Appeal to the Colored Citizens of the World – urged blacks to fight for freedoms rather than just wait
Many free blacks joined anti-slavery societies
1850 – most of the 434,000 free blacks in the South had jobs
Day laborers, artisans
North – only low paying jobs available

5. Frederick Douglass Born into slavery, but taught to read and write
1838- job in Baltimore but had to give up his earnings
Escaped to New York and used the identity of a free black sailor
Teamed up with Garrison gave speeches
Started The North Star newspaper
“I appear before the immense assembly this evening as a thief and a robber,” he would say. “I stole this head, these limbs, this body from my master and ran off with them.”
Frederick Douglass

6. Life Under Slavery 1810-1830 Rural Slavery
1.2 million slaves to 2 million slaves
1830 – majority born in America and spoke English
Rural Slavery
Men, women, and children worked dawn to dusk
Often whipped if they don’t work fast enough

7. Urban Slavery
Cotton wealth appealed to Southern whites who started farming
Less white laborers for mining and lumber
Needed slaves to fill jobs in mills and on ships
2.8 million slaves living rurally
400,000 living in cities
Slave owners hired out their slaves to factory owners
Urban slaves were away from owners more

8. Nat Turner’s Rebellion
Born into slaver in 1800 in Virginia
August 1831 – Turner led 80 people to escape
Killed almost 60 white people before being caught by troops
Turner hid for several weeks but was eventually found, tried, and hanged.
Whites killed 200 blacks to retaliate

9. Slave owners Defend slavery
Turner’s rebellion led to Virginia Governor John Floyd calling for gradual abolition in the state
Motion for abolition was denied by a vote
Backlash from Revolts
Pushed for tighter control on African Americans – known as slave codes
No preaching gospel unless a “respectable” slaveholder was present
Can’t own guns
Can’t purchase alcohol
Can’t assemble in public
Can’t testify in court
Can’t Own property
Can’t learn to read and write
Can’t work independently as carpenters or blacksmiths

10. Proslavery Defenses
Used Bible passages to show that servants have to obey their masters
Abolitionists continue to campaign for emancipation
Southern representatives secured a gag rule which deprived people of their right to have their opinions heard
Repealed in 1844