Black People’s of America- From Slavery to Equality-

Part 2
REALITY OF THE ATLANTIC SLAVE TRADE-
THE TRIANGULAR TRADE
 Number of European settlers in South,
Central and southern North America
increased rapidly.
 This led to growing demand for labourers
to work on mines and on plantations.
 This demand could be fulfilled by the
cheap labour from Africa.
 This labour was utilised for growing
Sugar, Coffee & tobacco on these
plantations in America which was sold
back to Europe.
 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PmQvofAiZGA
The Middle Passage
 Crossing from Africa to America was called
the ‘middle passage’.
 Ships from Europe came to Africa loaded
with guns, alcohol, tools etc and bargained
for slaves in return.
 It seems that the slaves were captured by
their own rulers who were sent to the coasts
and kept in prison in the forts.
 These forts were built by European or African
agents.
 The slaves were kept here in very poor and
unhygienic conditions due to which many of
them died even before they were taken
aboard.
THE MIDDLE PASSAGE- 2
 The European ships looked for fit and
healthy slaves who fetched good prices
in American markets.
 The rejected ones were either killed or
taken into slavery in Africa.
 Onboard men and women were
separated, chained by ankles in pairs.
 Due to overcrowding diseases spread
very quickly.
 Many died while aboard, some jumped
overboard, some mutinied and tried to
takeover the ship.
 Those who survived the middle passage
were sold to Europeans in America.
ARRIVAL IN AMERICA

Some were sold

Slaves were sold at a public
by private treaty auction or in
with planters or scramble.
middle man.

Fate of African slaves

They were
Husbands, wives branded and
and children were taken to
separated forever. plantations to
work in fields.
HOW WERE SLAVES TREATED?
 Slaves worked in harsh • Slaves worked as servants
conditions. In more than as labourers.
 Northern • They were often better
Sometimes they worked to states cared for as they were
death. expensive to replace.
 Slaves were considered as
possessions. • The slaves worked
 The number to slaves was 5 In on plantations under
times the Europeans so southern
states
harsh conditions.
keeping control over them
was a challenge hence they
• Slaves worked for wealthy
were tortured and were given plantation owners under
harsh punishments. In the very harsh conditions.
 This was done to ensure that Caribbean • Slaves were readily
available so could be easily
no slave dare to rebel. replaced.
INEQUALITIES OF SLAVES

• Slaves could not marry

• Could not earn a wage
• Own property
• Keep their own name
• Choose where to work or live.
• Give evidence in a court case against white men.
• Worship in their own way.
• Learn to read and write.
• Refuse to do any work for their owners.
LEVELS IN SLAVE SOCIETY
 Different Jobs  Different Background
Slave
.
drivers
. Mulattoes
Slave mother and
Mixed race
white father

Skilled Slaves
Example Carpenters
Slaves born in America
Domestic . .

servants
Slaves born in Africa
Field workers
. . . .
Freedom – How was it achieved?

 Some slaves managed to fight against it and

gain freedom.
 Some slaves used the underground rail network
to escape from south to north.
 Some revolted against the slave smugglers of
Spain and Britain, killed the Captain of the ship
and managed to free themselves.
 The case of Spanish ship- Amistad. (for more
details on this case go to the given site)
https://www.law.cornell.edu/background/amistad/revolt.html
The Slave Debate: What did people
think?
 As per Northern states (rich &
industrial regions)
 AGAINST SLAVERY
 Black people are equal in the
eyes of God.
 Black people should be sent back
to Africa to live separately.
 Plantation workers could not be
trusted about the condition of
slaves as they treated them like
animals.
 As the blacks fought against
Britishers during war of
independence so deserve to be
give freedom.
 As per Southern states (poor &
farming regions)
 IN FAVOUR OF SLAVERY
 Slaves are happy to work, they
have all they need and do not
have to look after themselves.
 The economy would collapse
without slavery.
 God agrees with slavery.
 We resent interference from the
North and their industrial success.
 Where would the blacks go if it
weren’t for the slave plantations?
 Slaves are needed to work on new
machines (cotton gins).
The Dred Scott Case: 1857
 Dred scott was a slave who was moved along with his family when
his master changed his home.
 Scott wanted to buy his freedom as he had saved enough money
but he was refused.
 Scott then went for a court case on the pretext that he was moved
to a state which does not accept slavery so he should be considered
free.
 Although the local court agreed with him but the state court and
Supreme court rejected his plea.
 As per the highest court the Declaration of Independence was
never meant to include black people as equal citizens.
 This implied that slavery could not be banned, slave owners could
take their slaves to free states and that the slaves had no rights.
THE CIVIL WAR- 1861 to 1865
(was slavery the issue?)
 1.Fear of Southern states-
Losing power and rights when Lincoln & the new
Republican party came into office in 1860. So they
formed the Confederate States of America in Nov.
1860.
 They wanted to keep the taxes low and right to own
slaves.
 Any new state admitted into the union should have
choice over slavery.
 Use the given link to watch the video.
 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rC7c3a-WO_g
THE CIVIL WAR-
(was slavery the issue?)
 2. Lincoln’s Aim
 To keep the Union together for which he was
ready to give away the struggle against
slavery.
 As the war progressed he needed men to
fight hence he made slavery a more central
issue and pushed for the emancipation of the
slaves.
THE CIVIL WAR-
(was slavery the issue?)
 3.Economic Reasons
 The Industrial north wanted import taxes to be
increased in order to protect their industries.
 South was against high taxes as it depended upon
trade.
 Southerners believed that Republicans will increase
the economic divisions between north and the south.
 Northern states supported abolition of slavery as it
would get the freed slaves as labourers to work in
their factories.
THE CIVIL WAR-

 Use of blacks as soldiers

 Emancipation proclamation of 1863- The slaves got the
right to join the union army and were also allowed greater
freedom.
 Ten Percent of the Union army was made of black slaves.

 The South refused the black men to fight in the army which
became a major mistake on their part and by 1865 when they
actually lifted this ban they were finally defeated.
TO BE CONTINUED
From Emancipation to Segregation- How free were black
people?