I know no class of my fellowmen, however just, enlightened, and humane, which can be wisely and safely trusted absolutely with the liberties of any other class. - Frederick Douglass
The institution of slavery in the Unitied States in spite of it's attachment to the ideals of democracy and liberty is perhaps one of the most perplexing, shameful and painfully enduring periods of US history. This week's blog asks that you examine analytical sources as well as first-hand accounts of the slave experience in order to gain a more comprehensive understanding of life in the Antebellum south and the conditions that led to mass upheval, the US Civil War and, ultimately, the abolition of slavery.
1) Read Chapter 9 of Howard Zinn’s People’s History of the United States at:
http://www.historyisaweapon.com/defcon1/zinnslaem10.html
Post two comments and/or questions on the major themes presented in this chapter.
2) Actively read selections from two Slave Accounts from the archive on Spartacus online archive:
http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/USAslavery.htm
(Be sure that your choices are accounts of enslaved people living in the Unites States)
3) Select at least three compelling quotes to reflect on in your blog. You may free-response by saying what the quote reminds you of or makes you wonder, or draw out themes and parallels about the slave experience in the United States. Try to make allusion’s to Zinn’s key ideas in your reflections.
4) Finally, Explain why you believe so many enslaved individuals decided to write narratives of their experiences with slavery? What is the purpose and power of examining primary sources like these while studying the institution of slavery in the American south?
This post should be at least 400 words. Please respond to at least one other students’ post for this assignment.
Due Sunday, 12/30 by 7:00 p.m.
The institution of slavery in the Unitied States in spite of it's attachment to the ideals of democracy and liberty is perhaps one of the most perplexing, shameful and painfully enduring periods of US history. This week's blog asks that you examine analytical sources as well as first-hand accounts of the slave experience in order to gain a more comprehensive understanding of life in the Antebellum south and the conditions that led to mass upheval, the US Civil War and, ultimately, the abolition of slavery.
1) Read Chapter 9 of Howard Zinn’s People’s History of the United States at:
http://www.historyisaweapon.com/defcon1/zinnslaem10.html
Post two comments and/or questions on the major themes presented in this chapter.
2) Actively read selections from two Slave Accounts from the archive on Spartacus online archive:
http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/USAslavery.htm
(Be sure that your choices are accounts of enslaved people living in the Unites States)
3) Select at least three compelling quotes to reflect on in your blog. You may free-response by saying what the quote reminds you of or makes you wonder, or draw out themes and parallels about the slave experience in the United States. Try to make allusion’s to Zinn’s key ideas in your reflections.
4) Finally, Explain why you believe so many enslaved individuals decided to write narratives of their experiences with slavery? What is the purpose and power of examining primary sources like these while studying the institution of slavery in the American south?
This post should be at least 400 words. Please respond to at least one other students’ post for this assignment.
Due Sunday, 12/30 by 7:00 p.m.
17 comments:
Jeremy Smith
APUS
1. I was very shocked at the title of this chapter for Howard Zinn's People's History of the United States. "Slavery Without Submission, Emancipation Without Freedom" is like a sort of analogy, but, it shows the difference and the conflict on the subject matter of slavery.
2. Why did Lincoln state, "I have no purpose, directly or indirectly, to interfere with the institution of slavery in the States where it exists," when he practically seceded seven states from the Union and formed the Confederacy? Was he actually against slavery or for it?
Some quotes I chose from the next selection were:
1. "The manner in which I learned to read and write, not only had great influence on my own mind, as I acquired it with the most perfect ease, so much so, that I have no recollection whatever of learning the alphabet--but to the astonishment of the family, one day, when a book was sewn me to keep me from crying, I began spelling the names of different objects - this was a source of wonder to all in the neighborhood, particularly the blacks - and this learning was constantly improved at all opportunities. " - Nat Turner, The Confessions of Nat Turner (1831)
2. "I was often mistaken for a white child; and in my rambles through the woods, many caresses have I received from wayside travellers; and the exclamation, "What a beautiful child!" was quite common." - Martha Browne, Autobiography of a Female Slave (1857)
3."With my painful bruises and blood-stained garments I found my way back to the sloop to await the return of Mr. Mansfield. When he saw my unfortunate condition and had heard my pitiful story he became quite indignant over it. He tried to obtain redress by offering a reward to discover the parties that had done the deed. To his astonishment, he was politely informed that his reward would do no good, as negroes are not allowed to pass between white men when they are standing talking. This is one of the methods they took to teach negroes their manners to white people. " - Isaac Mason, Life of Isaac Mason as a Slave (1893)
I believe the reason why enslaved individuals wrote narritives because those who were in bondage and in bondage would understand their situation. They wanted to spread the word out towards the people, how they feel on these situations, and how they can come across a compromise between those enslaved or been enslaved and those who are not. This relates back to the Howard Zinn chapter's title, and I thought it was a very controversial title. Zinn presented the very likelihood of understanding the society of enslaved people, and how Lincoln abused his powers to increase the size of slavery. Without reading these narratives, one can't fight against slavery. If people had read these during the time of increased slavery, then most of the population would be fighting against slavery. I guess the Civil War really proved the dedication and symmetry of ending slavery.
1. This chapter talks about slavery, and whether the presence or conditions of slavery are more important. "How can slavery be described? Perhaps not at all by those who have not experienced it...Are the conditions of slavery as important as the existence of slavery?" This quote is interesting because it's true that since none of us have experienced slavery, we only know what we've read. The other part of the quote is interesting as well, because it is asking whether it's enough to just have limitations to slavery, or if it is only just to be abolished all together.
2. Lincoln's actions were a major theme in this chapter as well. I learned a great deal of information that I did not currently know about the former president, since in elementary school we only learn about what a hero he was and not the other side of the issue. "Lincoln refused to denounce the Fugitive Slave Law publicly. He wrote to a friend: 'I confess I hate to see the poor creatures hunted down ... but I bite my lips and keep quiet.' And when he did propose, in 1849, as a Congressman, a resolution to abolish slavery in the District of Columbia, he accompanied this with a section requiring local authorities to arrest and return fugitive slaves coming into Washington ... He opposed slavery, but could not see blacks as equals, so a constant theme in his approach was to free the slaves and to send them back to Africa." Therefore, although he did end most of slavery, he still didn't view them as equal to whites which makes him almost as bad as the slave owners.
1. "The day's work must be accomplished, whether the head was racked with pain, and the frame was consumed by fever, or not; but the day came at length when poor Harriet could work no more. The sting of the lash had no power to rouse her now, and the new master finding her a dead weight on his hands, returned the useless piece of property to him who was called her "owner." And while she lay there helpless, this man was bringing other men to look at her, and offering her for sale at the lowest possible price..." (Sarah Bradford, Harriet Tubman, The Moses of Her People (1886)). This quote specifically stuck out to me because it makes me think that I always complain about headaches when I have homework to do, meanwhile there are people suffering even worse. While her head was pounding, Tubman was being whipped and forced to do treacherous work for no pay. This relates back to my first point in chapter 9 of Zinn's main ideas. Although there may have been some rules for slave owners to follow, it wasn't enough since people were still suffering for unjust reasons.
2. "But I want to give you a few specimens of the abuse which I received. During the ten years that I lived with Mrs. Banton, I do not think there were as many days, when she was at home, that I, or some other slave, did not receive some kind of beating or abuse at her hands. It seemed as though she could not live nor sleep unless some poor back was smarting, some head beating with pain, or some eye filled with tears, around her. Her tender mercies were indeed cruel. She brought up her children to imitate her example. Two of them manifested some dislike to the cruelties taught them by their mother, but they never stood high in favor with her; indeed, any thing like humanity or kindness to a slave, was looked upon by her as a great offence." (Lewis Clarke, Narrative of the Sufferings of Lewis Clark (1845)). This quote is also similar to Tubman's since it describes the torture they endured. It's so sad to think this is really what our country used to be like, and still is like in some parts of the country. No one deserves to be treated in such a cruel manner, especially based on something that is out of their control. That quote also mentions how the poor behavior towards blacks was passed down in some families.
3. "I want women to have their rights. In the courts women have no right, no voice; nobody speaks for them. I wish woman to have her voice there among the pettifoggers. If it is not a fit place for women, it is unfit for men to be there." (Sojourner Truth, speech at the Women's Convention in Akron, Ohio (1851)). This quote relates to the unfair treatment towards women, rather than to a particular race. Truth was very brave to speak out about women's rights during a vulnerable time for women. As she stated, there's really nothing that make men so much more fit for the world than women.
Many enslaved individuals probably wrote these narratives of their experiences in order to educate others. As they were writing it I don't know if they were thinking of others reading it in the future, but it is very helpful that people can now read it and realize how terrible it truly was. I disagree with Jeremy's comment that if people had read it at the time they would've fought in order to stop slavery. I'm sure that people were well aware of the slavery problem but didn't do anything out of ignorance or fear.
John Harden
Block H
Posted on: Dec. 289th, 2007
Part 1. Chapter nine of Howard Zinn’s “People’s History of the United States” was accurately titled “Slavery without Submission, Emancipation without Freedom”. The chapter discussed how slavery rose due to the rising success of the southern states’ agricultural trade market. Zinn states, “It would take either a full-scale slave rebellion or a full-scale war to end such a deeply entrenched system.” The system he is referring to is that of the south’s slave plantations. The article also touched upon the fact that slaves seemed happy and full of joy because they had to force themselves to be happy in order to avoid a mental breakdown of sorts. Being a slave during the 1800s was definitely mentally and physically challenging.
Part 2.
1. Maryland slave, Charles Ball states “After he had purchased me, he dressed me in this garment, took me before him on his horse, and started home; but my poor mother, when she saw me leaving her for the last time, ran after me, took me down from the horse, clasped me in her arms, and wept loudly and bitterly over me.” Charles Ball shows how the trading of slaves in the southern states took a toll not only physically but mentally and emotionally. Charles Ball was separated from his mother at a young age because another slave owner purchased him. Charles was separated from his mother never to see her again. Both his mother and Charles himself were definitely affected by this key moment in their lives.
2. Another slave account by Thomas Johnson also shows how families were constantly separated due to slavery. Thomas Johnson states, “My father was an octoroon, that is, he was one-eighth Negro blood, and he was a free man. When I was three years old, Mr. Brent, who owned me, removed to Alexandria, Virginia. My father then wanted to purchase my mother and myself, but our master would not sell us.” Even though his father was a freeman whom was rich enough to take care of his family, Johnson’s father could not have them back. Sadly enough the father, even rich enough to purchase his family, could not even stoop that low to get his family back as the slave owner would not allow it. The rest of Thomas Johnson’s father’s family was treated like possessions instead of humans and the slave owner had the right to decide whether or not he legally wanted to sell the wife and son back to the father.
3. Thomas Johnson’s account also states, “White children were free but black children were slaves and could be sold for money. What seemed worse than all was the discovery that our mothers, whom we looked upon as our only protectors, could not help us. Often we were reminded that if we were not good the white people would sell us to Georgia, which place we dreaded above all others on earth.” This quote by Johnson shows that not only were the black people treated like possessions instead of humans but also the mothers did not have as much power over their children then the slave owners did. Towards the end of the quotation, Johnson briefly touches upon the fact that Georgia was believed to be the most harsh slave region in the South.
Part 3.
Many slaves probably wrote these narrated life accounts to feel that they actually meant something if the time period was ever studied. Luckily for them and anyone with decent morals, the Northern Union defeated the Southern Confederates in the Civil War. Upon that time slavery was banished across the United States of America and black slaves were “free”. Today many people are interested in what it was like for a slave and besides that, United States’ schools are required to teach this time period of American History in the curriculum. These first hand, primary accounts strengthen the understanding of what it was like to be a slave because a slave or ex-slave had written them. Primary sources always show a better understanding of a pinpointed topic instead of secondary sources, which are mostly used to study a wide ranged topic, such as an entire war.
In response to Jeremy’s post: “Why did Lincoln state, "I have no purpose, directly or indirectly, to interfere with the institution of slavery in the States where it exists," when he practically seceded seven states from the Union and formed the Confederacy? Was he actually against slavery or for it?” The answer to that question is quite simple; politicians lie and change their viewpoints to suit whatever they believe will help them gain more power. Maybe, Lincoln was one of those few people who actually have a change of thought and morals due to experiences or change, but most likely Lincoln was out for himself. Much like Mitt Romney today, whose political viewpoints changed drastically when he decided to run for President.
Justin Lefkowitz
AP US History
H Block
Blog Part I
1. After the selection on Nat Turner’s Rebellion in Chapter 9 of Howard Zinn’s People’s History of the United States, one of the questions that I stated in class was there. “Did such rebellions set back the cause of emancipation, as some moderate abolitionists claimed at the time?” Rebellions definitely set back the emancipation of the slaves. During mid 19th century, slave owners were starting to free the slaves who worked for them. Many others were keeping them as slaves as a result of rebellion. Besides this, it is easy to conclude that rebellion gave the owners more of an urge to hurt, or possibly kill the slaves. If the slaves did not rebel, they might have been freed earlier than 1865. They probably should have listened to their owners more often.
2. The major theme of this chapter is to show the different attempts at freedom and how the slaves were ultimately freed. When reading, I realized that the slaves were not peaceful when they tried to achieve freedom. The slaves’ rebellions were quite brutal. Nat Turner and the seventy other slaves he rebelled with killed at least 55 men, women, and children. If the slaves thought they were being freed after something like this, they better re-think everything out.
Blog Part III
Quote 1 and Response 1:
“One day I had offended Aunt Katy and she adopted her usual mode of publishing me; namely, making me go all day without food. Sundown came, but no bread. I was too hungry to sleep.” This selection from the Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass shows a bad part of slave life, punishment. Believe it or not, this was one of the best punishments to receive. The reason why I chose to pick this quote is because at the time, Frederick was only seven years old. This shows that age did not matter when somebody was a slave. They were all treated equally. The only thing that might differ between the ages of slaves was the harsh punishments. If Frederick was a little older he probably would have been whipped.
Quote 2 and Response 2:
“The day's work must be accomplished, whether the head was racked with pain, and the frame was consumed by fever, or not; but the day came at length when poor Harriet could work no more.” This selection from Harriet Tubman, The Moses of Her People shows that slaves were worked to the bone. Whether they were sick, or in perfectly good shape, they would all be worked until no more work could be done. The slave owners made sure that their money went a long way after purchasing the slaves.
Quote 3 and Response 3:
“The men and women slaves received, as their monthly allowance of food, eight pounds of pork, or its equivalent in fish, and one bushel of corn meal Their yearly clothing consisted of two coarse linen shirts, one pair of linen trousers, like the shirts, one jacket, one pair of trousers for winter, made of coarse negro cloth, one pair of stockings, and one pair of shoes; the whole of which could not have cost more than seven dollars.” This selection from the Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass shows the reader that slaves did not have too much to brag about. They had barely any food and barely any clothes. On the year, a slave could where one of three things per day. They had a choice between one shirt, another shirt, and nothing. They only had two pairs of pants to choose from. This is crazy. Today people have so many clothes to choose from to wear each day. There are still some who are less fortunate, but even they have more than the slaves did. The slaves really had it bad.
Blog Part IV
Slaves had it really bad in the United States. During their bad experiences, many of these slaves started to write narratives on their experiences with slavery. Some slaves probably wrote narratives to take their minds off of their slave work. Maybe they thought of writing the narrative as a break in the day, or possibly a fun activity to do at night. I agree with Jaclyn when she says that they wrote the narratives to educate others, but definitely not for people in the future. I would suggest that maybe the slaves wrote the narratives thinking that people in the future would be able to see what they were put through, but not many of the slaves were able to think like this as a result of no education. Studying the accounts left by the slaves plays a huge part in the uncovering of American history. By reading these accounts, people can get a sense of what slavery was like in the American South during the slavery era of the United States. It worked for this blog assignment so that’s probably one of the bigger reasons.
First Part:
1. Defining slavery was a major theme throughout chapter nine of Howard Zinn’s People’s History of the United States. No one really understands the true concept of slavery accept those who were once slaves. “How can slavery be described? Perhaps not at all by those who have not experienced it.” This statement holds true, as no one can understand an individual’s life unless he/she is in his/her shoes. Indeed, there are diary entries, secret notes and dusty records; however words can only tell us so much. Thus Americans today can only understand how slavery impacted our country. It is interesting to note that Howard Zinn’s first remark towards slavery’s impact on America was the beneficial commercial doors that were thrust opened. “Thus, while the ending of slavery led to a reconstruction of national politics and economics, it was not a radical reconstruction, but a safe one- in fact, a profitable one”. Money seems to be the main drive for American’s in the past, present and future.
2. Overruling the government was another major theme of chapter nine, as the government secretly pushed for the continuation of slavery. “It was the national government which, while weakly enforcing the law ending the slave trade, sternly enforced the laws providing for the return of fugitives to slavery. It was the national government that, in Andrew Jackson's administration, collaborated with the South to keep abolitionist literature out of the mails in the southern states. It was the Supreme Court of the United States that declared in 1857 that the slave Dred Scott could not sue for his freedom because he was not a person, but property.” This quote really impacted my thoughts on the government, as they are forever holding such a strong power that can easily be used in wrong-doings. Howard Zinn was trying to indicate the idea that a simple rebellion was not going to stop slavery and overrule the government, however a humongous war. Thank God for Lincoln.
Second Part:
1. “She was kind to me, as I then counted kindness, never whipping me or starving me; but it was not what a free-born white child would have found comforting or needful” Bethany Veney reveals her definition of kind. No one really knows what Bethany witnessed, however the fact that she used the word kind to describe her master is extremely deep. She goes on to explain how a free-born white child has a different definition for the word ‘kind’ than she does. Slaves had a better understanding of taking nothing for granted, as they were often offered very little. For some reason this quote really struck me. Perhaps it’s because Bethany refers to her master, a person who purchased her for labor, as kind.
2. “I did not want him to make us promise that we would always be true to each other, forsaking all others, as the white people do in their marriage service, because I knew that at any time our masters could compel us to break such a promise…” Bethany, once again, indicates the control and power their masters exert on them. As a slave, you have no power of choice, option, or decision. I can only imagine how horribly it felt to have no voice and no opinion in life. The fact that the masters could decide whether the slaves marry or separate is beyond injustice.
3. “Nobody has a right to whip me but my own master, and nobody shall do so if I can prevent it” The slaves had to show nothing but surrender to their masters. They knew no other way of living, especially when they were born a slave. In this case, Elizabeth Keckley was born into slavery, and thus showed obedience to her masters. It’s heartbreaking to read how colored individuals had to submit to whites in order to stay alive.
Last Part:
1. So many enslaved individuals decided to write narratives about their experience with slavery in order to inform the future, remind the past, and enlighten the present. Slavery cannot be dropped from history text-books and forgotten, as it impacted all of America. It’s clearly important to remember such misery and emotions slaves witnessed in order to prevent it from happening once again. Although after the Civil War slavery was declared abolished, the use of slaves sadly still exists today. I agree with Justin in the sense that reading accounts written by slaves helps recieve the big picture. The purpose of examining primary sources like these help individuals to gain a better understanding of slavery in the American south. Although no one will truly understand how it felt to be a slave, besides the slaves themselves, individuals can receive a tiny visualization of the large amounts of pain and suffering slaves witnessed.
Ashley Aydin
AP US – Block H
Queries from Howard Zinn’s Slavery Without
Submission, Emancipation Without Freedom
1. “Lincoln could argue with lucidity and passion against slavery on moral grounds, while acting cautiously in practical politics” (Zinn). For quite some time, Americans were divided over the imbalance of slavery and who was responsible for easing the constant violence. Do you think slavery is a moral or political issue?
2. “The American government had set out to fight the slave states in 1861, not to end slavery, but to retain the enormous national territory and market and resources” (Zinn).
The United States, independent and influential, possessed many assets to quickly rid of slavery. Do you think the American government could have acted sooner in their attempt to abolish slavery?
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Slave Accounts & Quote Reflections
Slave Account Selections:
- Henry Box Brown
-Isaac Mason
Quotes:
* “I was now placed in the depôt amongst the other luggage, where I lay till seven o'clock at which time a waggon drove up, and I heard a person inquire for such a box as that in which I was. I was then placed on a waggon and conveyed to the house where my friend in Richmond had arranged I should be received.” – Henry Box Brown
* “While passing up Pratt Street I saw two men standing on the sidewalk. They were not standing close together. I could not very well pass around them, and to proceed I had to go between them, which I attempted to do. They soon stopped and severely beat me for so doing.When they got through my clothes were all full of blood that flowed from my own body. I was ignorant, yes, completely ignorant of their law, forbidding a negro from passing between two or more white men or women who were walking or standing on the sidewalk, and that he or she must take the street to give place to their superiors. By the time they got through inflicting their punishment I had learned something of the penalty of the crime.” – Isaac Mason
* “Many slaves were whipped, hung, and cut down with the swords in the streets; and some that were found away from their quarters after dark, were shot; the whole city was in the utmost excitement, and the whites seemed terrified beyond measure. Great numbers of slaves were loaded with irons; some were half hung as it was termed --that is they were suspended from some tree with a rope about their necks, so adjusted as not quite to strangle them--and then they were pelted by men and boys with rotten eggs. This half-hanging is a refined species of punishment peculiar to slaves! This insurrection took place some distance from the city, and was the occasion of the enacting of that law by which more than five slaves were forbidden to meet together unless they were at work; and also of that, for the silencing all coloured preachers.” – Henry Box Brown
Reflection:
Existing as a contradiction to freedom and liberty, slavery is perhaps one of the most discussed matters in United States history. For many years, Americans faced great hardship and cruelty in their struggle to succeed in establishing justice and equality. Nonetheless, with the trouble of slavery, achieving such virtues proved ideal. Relating to racism, sexism, and intolerance, slavery promoted greed and abuse. Slaves, being condoned as normal beings, were forced to live as shadows - without pure rights and lifestyles. They were often punished for attempting to pursue their own yearnings. With limited privileges, slaves were to abide by demanding laws. Accordingly, they existed as a social grouping that was consistently overlooked. Forced to labor and tend to their mater’s needs, slaves were robbed of time, schooling, and more significantly, their own talents. Referring to the past, many Americans remain shameful for the oppressive actions against slaves and the amount of time the United States, as whole, took to eliminate the practice.
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The Purpose & Value of Narratives
Primary sources serve a significant purpose in capturing the true lives of former slaves. Without narratives and/or other primary sources, United States history would be skewed and dull. Learning from actual events, students can imagine the brutality and adversity the slave minority endured. For this purpose, slaves desired to record their feelings, thoughts, and ideals. Hoping to inspire a future free of slavery, countless individuals documented their harsh lives and ultimate outcomes. By examining primary sources, learners can become knowledgeable about valuable facts and what truly occurred in the South.
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* John’s view on Lincoln’s mindset is interesting. Slavery was a fundamental dilemma that lay in the way of unity in the United States. Lincoln, being a realistic thinker, sought to abolish the negativity that pushed many Americans to become divided. With his actions, he eased much political and social tension.
Elizabeth Che
Block H - AP US History
Part 1
1a. The following quote from Howard Zinn’s People’s History of the United States,“It would take either a full-scale slave rebellion or a full-scale war to end such a deeply entrenched system. If a rebellion, it might get out of hand, and turn its ferocity beyond slavery to the most successful system of capitalist enrichment in the world. If a war, those who made the war would organize its consequences.” caught my attention as the end to slavery was proposed though two means. Like Zinn, I too believe that slavery may only be ended with a “full-scale war.” Although conversations with each side is more pleasant and less risk taking, the possibility of success is low. There is no way that everyone effected will agree to one decision and so the only other way is through force. If a higher-authority took a stand and declared one set pattern to follow, the citizens are more likely to follow through despite their opinions. A “full-scale slave rebellion” does not seem well organized and may be seen more like an angry protest instead of a thought out movement. Meanwhile, a “full-scale war” needed to have financial support and political back up from officials and thus has more of an impact on the citizens then a common get-together mob created by a rebellion.
1b. After reading chapter 9 of Howard Zinn’s People’s History of the United States, I realized that my previous belief that the Emancipation Proclamation was an honorable act that saved all of the enslaved blacks were mere fragments of reality. As stated, “when the Emancipation Proclamation was issued January 1, 1863, it declared slaves free in those areas still fighting against the Union (which it listed very carefully), and said nothing about slaves behind Union lines.” Abraham Lincoln was not the ideal figure who my grade school teachers had thought me to be. Instead of believing equality was for every individual, he held beliefs of superiority and so not everyone was considered to be able to obtain the right of “freedom.” The Emancipation Proclamation only freed the slaves fighting in areas against the Union and had not included the Union area, thus, the areas who were loyal to his cause were the ones who were benefitted. Meanwhile, slaves in the Union continued to live through the cruelties of their masters in dreams of obtaining their rights as well. Hence, the Emancipation Proclamation continued the practice of slavery in the Southern areas while only freeing those in the North, it did not bring equality or freedom to all of the United States but just where he deemed to be worthy of the right.
Part 2/Part 3
3a. “She knew that some of them would be taken from her; but they took all. The children were sold to a slave-trader, and their mother was bought by a man in her own town. Before night her children were all far away.” - Harriet Jacobs, Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl
This quote was compelling to me as it reminded me of the importance of family. Harriet Jacobs notes the separation of children from their mothers and from each other as they were sold to the highest bidder. The mother had no voice in where her children are to be given nor earn any profit from their selling. Since slaves were considered “property” of their masters, they owned no belongings for themselves but the bonds they form between other individual. Yet, it is cruel for little children to be taken away from their mothers as they have no understanding of the harsh world. The feeling of loss and desperation is probably overbearing as I can’t even imagine what I would do if I were to be taken away from my own family.
3b.”Then he picked up a rawhide, and began to ply it freely over my shoulders. With steady hand and practised eye he would raise the instrument of torture, nerve himself for a blow, and with fearful force the rawhide descended upon the quivering flesh. It cut the skin, raised great welts, and the warm blood trickled down my back. Oh God! I can feel the torture now--the terrible, excruciating agony of those moments. I did not scream; I was too proud to let my tormentor know what I was suffering. I closed my lips firmly, that not even a groan might escape from them, and I stood like a statue while the keen lash cut deep into my flesh.” - Elizabeth Keckley Thirty Years a Slave
This quote from Keckley’s Thirty Years a Slave reminded me of the brutalities slaves faced. Slaves were subjected to whipping and punishment at the whim of their masters or of any white person. They were unable to defend themselves and if they tried, were further punished. However, the slaves still had their rightful pride as to not submit to the injustices society threw at them. I couldn’t help but wince at the descriptions and think of all the other treatments that befell on the enslaved, as well as to ponder if people are still humans if they have cruelly disintegrated other humans.
3c. “...That child is a girl, and from her own experience she sees its almost certain doom is to minister to the unbridled lust of the slave-owner, and feels that the law holds over her no protecting arm, it is not strange that, rude and uncultured as I was, I felt all this, and would have been glad if we could have died together there and then.” - Bethany Veney A Slave Women
As with free women, female slaves had a tougher life. They were to be submitted into further injustices then the male slaves due to their gender. Their masters would often rape and harass them whereas male slaves would not have faced such misconduct. The child of a slave has the same title as that of their mother and so, giving birth to a female would only be sentencing her to a life of suffering. Males were often able to rebel and rise up with their strength and work, but, there was no hope for the females. Women continue to have the smaller end to the bargain as gender plays into the psychological theory of inferiority.
Part 4
Many enslaved individuals decided to write narratives of their experiences with slavery due to their desires to let others know of their twisted past. By educating the future, same mistakes may be avoided or hoped to be avoided. Their narratives also act as a historical record that leaves behind evidence of their existence. By chance the future decides to hide the cruelties or deny the fact that slavery was ever in effect, these narratives would prove otherwise. The purpose and power of examining primary sources like these while studying the institution of slavery in the American south is to have a first hand understanding of how the institution of slavery affected the citizens. Instead of just learning from the textbook or another person’s view, a student is able to develop their own thoughts to the topic of slavery. Textbooks and other historical texts may sway the reader to think otherwise instead of providing the details for the reader to think for themselves. They do not contain the voice of someone who actually experienced the pain but someone who deciphered their experience based on the authors own ideas. Thus, information may be altered and edited to fit a purpose. Primary sources on the other hand is more direct and reliable since there is no interference in between the reader and the information recorded.
Response/Comment to Another Post
Similar to Jaclyn’s view, I also disagree with Jeremy’s comment that the narratives would have persuaded the readers to fight for the end of slavery. Based on the selected reading chapter of Howard Zinn’s People’s History of the United States, the whites and the blacks were separated and treated differently. Although there were whites who pitied the slaves and deemed slavery as unconstitutional, slavery was still in effect. Had the slave masters read the narratives their slaves wrote, they would be more outraged and punish the slaves heavily for their conduct. The slaves would not have been supported by all of the readers and publication would not have been possible unless there was someone with the financial abilities to support the slaves. But, for the present readers, pity and sympathy is felt as the different periods of time changes the way of thought for the general public.
Sarah Berfond
Block H
Part One
Question One: In People’s History of the United States Howard Zinn briefly describes the relationship between the Irish immigrants and black slaves. “When the Brunswick canal was built in Georgia, the black slaves and white Irish workers were segregated, the excuse being that they would do violence against one another.” Since both the African Americans and Irish immigrants were discriminated and oppressed, why didn’t they join forces and demand equality?
Question Two: Normally the perception of African Americans during the African Americans during the antebellum period was of uneducated illiterate people forced to accept whatever society gave them. However, Howard Zinn used a quote from a college student in his novel to help educate the reader on the presence of sophisticated, articulate people in the African American community who helped marshal their rights. Do you think it was the rhetoric of African Americans, such as John Hope, which caused the North to demand the abolition of slavery?
Part Three
Quote One
Olaudah Equiano’s said the following in a letter to Gordon Turnbull: “To kidnap our fellow creatures, however they may differ in complexion, to degrade them into beasts of burthen, to deny them every right but those, and scarcely those we allow to a horse, to keep them in perpetual servitude, is a crime as unjustifiable as cruel; but to avow and to defend this infamous traffic required the ability and the modesty of you and Mr. Tobin. Can any man be a Christian who asserts that one part of the human race were ordained to be in perpetual bondage to another..”
Equiano was wise to use religion as a rational for fighting slavery. At the time religion was an important social, political and economic factor in all decisions made by white Americans. Often it was the pastor of a church who was the leader of a community and whose words were followed. By saying slavery was unchristian Equiano tried to leverage his fight by invoking a powerful religion.
Quote Two
Moses Grandy said the following in the Life of a Slave: “ When I first went to the Northern States, which is about ten years ago, although I was free as to the law, I was made to feel severely the difference between persons of different colours. No black man was admitted to the same seats in churches with the whites, nor to the inside of public conveyances, nor into street coaches or cabs: we had to be content with the decks of steam-boats in all weathers, night and day, - not even our wives or children being allowed to go below, however it might rain, or snow, or freeze; in various other ways, we were treated as though we were of a race of men below the whites.”
This quote made me realize that the fight against slavery solved only half the problem faced by African Americans. Although they won their freedom after the civil war African Americans were not treated equally until the civil rights movement in the mid 20th century. The fight for equality was the second battle which was lead by Martin Luther King, Rosa Parks and other notable leaders of the time. Even today there are often disparities between the African American and white communities. Many minorities still suffer economic discrimination and the inability of obtain well paying jobs and quality education.
Quote Three
Elizabeth Keckley said the following in the Thirty Years a Slave: “I was born a slave--was the child of slave parents--therefore I came upon the earth free in God-like thought, but fettered in action. My birthplace was Dinwiddie Court-House, in Virginia. My master, Col. A. Burwell, was somewhat unsettled in his business affairs, and while I was yet an infant he made several removals. Mrs. Burwell gave birth to a daughter, a sweet, black-eyed baby, my earliest and fondest pet. To take care of this baby was my first duty. True, I was but a child myself - only four years old - but I had been taught to rely upon myself, and to prepare myself to render assistance to others. The lesson was not a bitter one, for I was too young to indulge in philosophy, and the precepts that I then treasured and practised I believe developed those principles of character which have enabled me to triumph over so many difficulties. Notwithstanding all the wrongs that slavery heaped upon me, I can bless it for one thing - youth's
important lesson of self-reliance”
This quote teaches an important lesson to everyone who reads it. Every cloud has a silver lining. Elizabteh Keckley was faced with a live of slavery as a child. Although she would be justified in being bitter and angry, she turned the other cheek and found a positive amongst all the negatives. She believed that her childhood traumas taught independence and self-reliance. I was impressed with Elizabeth’s ability to recognize her successes in spite of the restraints she faced in life.
Part 4
I believe that slaves wrote these letters and quotes in order to document the conditions they were forced to live under and their feelings towards the oppressors. There distrust of white people was probably another factor which led to the documentation of their trials and experiences. There is no way to effectively learn about the occurrences during the Antebellum and civil war period without reading the accounts of African Americans who lived during that period. First hand accounts by white citizens would clearly be biased and one sided, even if the document was by an abolitionist. By reading the first hand accounts, researchers and historians are able to recreate with certainty the social structure of the times. Even with these documents it is often hard to project the feelings and emotions of one person unto an entire group of people or nation. Therefore, one must read these journals with an interested by skeptical eye
Response to Ashley Aydin’s comment: As an answer to you first question, I believe that slavery was neither a political nor moral issue. I think it was an economic decision made by a powerful group of white businessmen. The desire for wealth and money made people corrupt their morals and politics and help rationalize this evil concept.
Anam Baig, Block H
Part One
1. One interesting idea from Howard Zinn’s People’s History of the United States was a phrase from the 1932 edition of a best-selling textbook by two northern liberal historians who saw slavery as maybe the Negro's "necessary transition to civilization." Basically these liberal historians are saying that slavery can be justified because it was fundamental in African Americans’ transition to civilization. Slavery cannot be justified in any way because it was completely a barbaric and primeval practice. Claiming that slavery was necessary for a race to progress in society and civilization is biased because these northern liberal historians had mostly likely never experienced slavery and therefore have no right to justify it. No person can describe slavery as adequately has those who have been enslaved.
2. It was upsetting to read the accounts of slaves that had been separated from their families. As it is described in this chapter, slaves were often separated from their families and sold when their owners would be running low on money. Many slave families were torn apart, but as Zinn explains it, the power and ties of family was deeply rooted in the lives of the slaves. A man who was separated from his family and sold off wrote a letter to his wife saying, "Send me some of the children's hair in a separate paper with their names on the paper. ... I had rather anything to had happened to me most than ever to have been parted from you and the children. . . . Laura I do love you the same...."
Part Three
1. “…Man is so selfish that he has got women's rights and his own too, and yet he won't give women their rights. He keeps them all to himself.” Sojourner Truth said this in a speech at the Women's Convention in Akron, Ohio in 1851. Sojourner Truth basically embodies my feelings about women being denied their rights. From the start, women should have had their rights because they, like men, are human beings and should not be denied their fundamental rights as citizens of the nation. Sojourner says that man took women’s rights because he is so selfish. She is also speaking about how the white man takes away rights from the black people. Sojourner fought for both women’s rights and for African Americans’ rights, and this quote is part of her grievance of white men.
2. In her speech at the Women’s Convention in Akron, Ohio in 1851, Sojourner Truth said, “That man over there says that women need to be helped into carriages, and lifted over ditches, and to have the best place everywhere. Nobody ever helps me into carriages, or over mud-puddles, or gives me any best place! And ain't I a woman? Look at me! Look at my arm! I have ploughed and planted, and gathered into barns, and no man could head me! And ain't I a woman?” This quote is inspirational and gives me a pride to be a female. It also invokes anger in me because it reminds me of how black women were not treated like women at all. They were just treated like a separate race of beings. They were forced into the category of “Negro”, a person without rights and without a place in the world besides the plantation they served on. Sojourner says that women who were slaves did more work than any white man who oppressed her, and deserved to be treated with equality and respect.
3. “For what this separation is done, I do not know, unless it be to hinder the development of the child's affection toward its mother, and to blunt and destroy the natural affection of the mother for the child. This is the inevitable result.” In this quote, Frederick Douglas speaks about how slave families were split up, and how mother and child were often split up when the child was very young. In Howard Zinn’s A People’s History of the United States separation of slave families was an important theme. Douglas recalls his relationship with his mother with bitterness and sadness because he never knew her properly, and she died when he was seven years old. He reflects on how slave owners separate slave mothers from their children and feels that the reason behind it was so that there would be no affection between the mother and child.
Part Four
Without the narratives of the slaves, no one would truly understand the predicament African Americans were once in. No one would understand the true injustice, the true bitterness and the resentment that came from being unjustly enslaved. Slaves wrote these accounts to educate those around them, and to educate the people of the future, to show them the injustice and the failure of the United States government to grant equal rights to the African Americans until long after its establishment. It is important for us as students of United States history to learn the low points our nation has been in, and slavery is one of them. If we only read the narration of slave owners, we would only be investigating one side of the story. History always has two sides, and history would be incomplete with only one side. That is what makes these slave accounts so powerful in our studies.
Response to Lefty,
I agree with what you said about why slaves wrote their accounts. It was very useful for this blog assignment. But I feel that the slaves knew that their accounts would impact future generations. It's common sense. You don't have to be educated to know that you are making an impact, or going to impact a future generation.
Dominique D. Johnson
AP U.S.
Part ONE
Quote 1
“Hence, it was Abraham Lincoln who freed the slaves, not John Brown. In 1859, John Brown was hanged, with federal complicity, for attempting to do by small-scale violence what Lincoln would do by large-scale violence several years later-end slavery.” This quote is rather interesting since often in history and also in society we refer to Lincoln as being the only Caucasian man in politics that tried and succeed in abolishing slavery. In fact, John Brown is not highly praised as being the first Caucasian American abolitionist who dare to go against the Union and attempted to abolish slavery.
Quote 2
“How can slavery be described? Perhaps not at all by those who have not experienced it.” This is quote is absolutely true in most situations. No one can describe something if they have not witnessed or experienced it. No one assume that slavery was dandy or most tormenting if one did not experience it.
Part TWO
Quote 1
"'T Was mercy brought me from my pagan land,
Taught my benighted soul to understand
That there's a God--that there's a Saviour too:
Once I redemption neither sought nor knew.
Some view our sable race with scornful eye--
'Their color is a diabolic dye.'
Remember, Christians, Negroes black as Cain
May be refined, and join the angelic train." - Phillis Wheatley, On Being Brought from Africa to America (1773)
Qutoe 2
"After being about 15 days out to sea a heavy squall struck the ship. The poor slaves below, altogether unprepared for such an occurrence, were mostly thrown to the side, where they lay heaped on the top of each other; their fetters rendered many of them helpless, and before they could be arranged in their proper places, and relived from their pressure on each other, it was found that 15 of them were smothered or crushed to death. The captain seemed considerably vexed; but the only grievance to him was the sudden loss of some five or six thousand dollars." - Zamba Zembola, The Life and Adventures of Zamba and African Slave (1847)
Quote 3
"With my painful bruises and blood-stained garments I found my way back to the sloop to await the return of Mr. Mansfield. When he saw my unfortunate condition and had heard my pitiful story he became quite indignant over it. He tried to obtain redress by offering a reward to discover the parties that had done the deed. To his astonishment, he was politely informed that his reward would do no good, as negroes are not allowed to pass between white men when they are standing talking. This is one of the methods they took to teach negroes their manners to white people. " - Isaac Mason, Life of Isaac Mason as a Slave (1893)
Part Three
So many enslaved individuals decided to write narratives of their own experiences as a slave perhaps because they wanted the history of slavery in America to be based on the truth since America is portrayed as the country for the free; which Howard Zinn pointed out in his title. The impact on how slave labor built America and the hunger for a much dominant economy. Without their stories being told, the history of slavery in America would be sugar coated and perhaps flipped around to make it seem as if this was the only way to build the economy. As being one of the last countries in the world to abolish slavery, I am appalled on how America uses manifest destiny to “bring freedom and democracy” to other countries. Even after slavery was abolished their was still equality issues among African Americans, Caribbean Americans, and Hispanic Americans, which counters how strong the Declaration of Independence and the Emancipation Proclamation played a role in society. Also these slave narratives are primary resources that allows the fututre to have access to the other side of slavery, in the position of a slave.
Response to Jeremy
I too, questioned Abraham Lincoln's position on slavery after reading this chapter since he didn't officially state his side of this issue that plagued politics in the 19th century.
Post two comments and/or questions on the major themes presented in this chapter.
Chapter 9 of Howard Zinn’s People’s History of the United States is about the life of a slave. A major theme in the chapter is the relationships between slaves. Even though many slaves were split apart, most were still able to form groups like families. They cared for one another very much. For instance, one slave would willingly die for another. Many slaves gave one another support. When one slave was whipped, the whole slave community felt for him. Another major theme in the text is the huge profits that slavery brought. Many slave owners were growing extremely rich, and this is why the civil war occurred. Southerners were not willing to lose their slaves which would lead to the devastation of the southern economy. Like many, most southerners were money greedy. Southerners were willing to leave the union before they accepted the abolition of slavery.
Questions
3) Select at least three compelling quotes to reflect on in your blog. You may free-response by saying what the quote reminds you of or makes you wonder, or draw out themes and parallels about the slave experience in the United States. Try to make allusion’s to Zinn’s key ideas in your reflections.
“I had at times serious thoughts of suicide so great was my anguish,” stated Charles Ball.
This quote illustrates how pathetic the life of a slave really was. Yes, many did try to lead happy lives in a world of mass labor, but many slaves could not. There were too many problems that a slave often did consider suicide. Many at this time were arriving to the U.S for a better life, but slaves absolutely hated the U.S for slavery. This quote shows how horrible life was for some, even in the most “liberty loving nation” in the world.
“The Negroes from the neighboring plantations were summoned to witness the scene. A powerful blacksmith named Hewes laid on the stripes. Fifty were given, during which the cries of my father might be heard a mile away, and then a pause ensured,” stated Josiah Henson.
This quote illustrates how slave owners kept slaves “in line”. Slave owners used techniques like whipping one severely to scare the rest into obeying. The quote shows the constant fear that every slave was filled with. This just shows another thing that made the life of a slave just that much harder.
“Mr. Gooch, the cotton planter, he purchased me at a town called Liberty Hill, about three miles from his home,” stated Moses Roper.
This quote shows another fear that a slave always had. Slaves did not like being constantly sold, as most of the time, this would involve the splitting of families and long established friends. Plus, going into a new area is always scary. One slave would never know if their new slave owner would be nicer or meaner than the last. There was always the risk that their new slave owner would be meaner and more corrupt.
Explain why you believe so many enslaved individuals decided to write narratives of their experiences with slavery?
Many enslaved individuals decided to write narratives of their experiences with slavery for a variety of purposes. For one, there was always that hope that if the northerners would use narratives tor further proof of the immorality of slavery and eventually the abolotion of slavery. A slave knew that they probably wouldn’t be free, but the chance that their children could be free was well worth it. Moreover, writing a narrative would make a slave actually feel like a “somebody”. Constantly working and hardly exposed to the world outside their owners land, a slave would want many to know that they existed. In addition, a slave may have heard that many believe the U.S is the best nation in the world with the most freedoms. He or she may have wrote a narrative to heavily disprove this theory and show the hypocracy of the U.S government. Also, a slave may have wanted to show how a slave could potentially write, thus proving that slaves shouldn’t just be slaves.
What is the purpose and power of examining primary sources like these while studying the institution of slavery in the American south?
Examining primary sources like these while studying the institution of slavery in the American South is extremely important. One may accurately show what the life of a slave could’ve been like, but primary sources are absolute proof of how the life of a slave really was. Plus, many slave owners could distort how they handled slaves to perhaps show they were treated right. Primary sources allows for the truth!
Elizabeth stated, "Many enslaved individuals decided to write narratives of their experiences with slavery due to their desires to let others know of their twisted past."
I definetly agree with Elizabeth. Slaves who were whipped and overworked, which were many, were dieing to get revenge on their owners somehow. If they weren't able to physically do it, then why not ambarras that individual morally. Plus, slaves were dieing to let the world know how they were treated in a nation that is obsessed with liberty, democracy and equality.
*Please forgive my tardiness, for I was away on vacation from Tuesday the 25th up until Tuesday the 1st and did not have access to a computer.
Teresa Konopka
Block H
AP US
Howard Zinn’s Slavery Without Submission is a bit of a paradoxically oxymoron in itself. All throughout the chapter, slavery with submission is discussed. Even though, as history shows, slaves eventually broke free from submissiveness, there was a long period where tacit docility ruled. In John Little’s slave account, he talks of being profusely whipped copiously, yet seems to be able to do nothing about it. In Lawrence Levine’s piece, he merely discusses agrarian aspects of life and seems to care about nothing else. However, in 1829, resistance began to burgeon yet. David Walker published a pamphlet, which called for salve resistance. Loguen also began to insurrect by himself. In a letter, he talks of his personal freedoms, a term that many slaves hardly knew personally. In 1841, there was a bigger revolt with the Creole. Basically, slaves boarded the ship, took it over, and went to the British West Indies where slavery was frowned upon. Even Lincoln himself, a famous proprietor of anti-slavery said, “I as much as any other man am in favor of having the superior position assigned to the white race.” While wanting to free the slaves, he twisted his rhetoric to win the presidential election and have Southerners believe he still supported them. When the transition between docility and independence became smoother throughout history, slaves began to shed their coat of compliance. As George Rawick explains, “The slaves went from being frightened human beings...slaves deserted the plantations, destroying the Smith's ability to supply its army.” In the 1870s, legislation began to extend a helping hand towards Negroes. In fact, in 1875, a Civil Rights Act outlawed the principle of denying Negroes access to hotels, theaters, railroads, and other public facilities. Even with the Civil War and Negroes’ involvement in the war effort, much leeway was still needed in black rights. As Fortune said, “The white man who shoots a Negro always goes free, while the Negro who steals a hog is sent to the chaingang for ten years.”
Annie Burton experienced slavery firsthand and even wrote about her troubles and transgressions. In her Memories of Childhood’s Slavery Days, Burton shows what it is like to live as a slave girl. From whippings to families being torn apart, Burton saw it all. However, Burton was at least glad enough to live to see the day when slavery was abolished. She even wrote a biography on Abraham Lincoln in adulation. In Henry Clay Bruce’s account, he discusses how his bondage affected him. His Twenty-Nine Years a Slave told of how he was a slave from when he was very young. At that time, he recollects of his slave life as akin to incarceration. He recalls of working with cotton, seeing friends being sold, and finally to the time when he was no longer obligated to live a life of slavery. It is intriguing that so many slaves decided to write their accounts down on paper. Perhaps, they did this so that they would be remembered when they passed on. Or, it could be to encourage other formerly enslaved persons that they were not the only ones who knew what it felt like to finally be free. Most of all, former slaves probably wrote accounts in order to provide some sort of literature for young Negro children. After all, literature up until that point was solely written by white men. Former slaves proved to new generations that blacks could not only be freed, but that they could be published along with books written by whites. Dominique's blog brings up many excellent points about slavery inequality. Her comparisons of capitalism with slavery make sense. After all, many whites feared that a loss of slavery would ruin America’s economy. It is also lugubrious that John Brown is not more recognized in abolitionism, when compared to Lincoln, as Dominique points out.
Jeremy G-: I'd be interested in hearing you respond more directly to the quotes you chose.
Jaclyn G+: Insightful questions and quote analysis. Also, I'm compelled by your response to Jeremy's position on the purpose of the narratives at the time of their publication; if they weren't intended to spread the word aboutthe horrors of slavery what do you think their purpose was?
John G+: Solid summaries and interesting quote analysis'. I'm inclined to ask what exactly you think Lincoln had to gain by straddling the slavery issue throughout his presidency?
Justin - G+: What a controversial position you took on slave rebellions! I'm inclined to ask if you always think that resistance movements are a waste of energy (could segregation have ended without the mass protests of the Civil Rights movement; vietnam without the massive anti-war movement?). Overall, thoughtful and detailed work.
Heather - E-: Thoughful and analytical work. I'm interested in how you would respond to Jeremy and John's critiques of Lincoln.
Ashley- E-: You posed some interesting questions in response to Chapter 9 - please raise them in class for further discussion.
Eizabeth - E: Detailed and analytical post. I appreciated your in-depth cross examination of Lincoln's poltiical image.
Sarah - E-: Your analysis of the narratives was informed and compelling. Interesting response to Ashley's question about the nature of slavery.
Anam - E: Your reflections demonstrated an in-depth intellectual and emotional connection to the assigned materials. Your final comment made me wonder, do you think that as these slave narratives were composed their authors believed their story would lead to the end of slavery or because they wanted to preserve their stories in the event that the injustice of slavery continued for generations to come?
Dominque G-: Like I commented to Jeremy, I was hoping you would work more directly to analyze the quotes chosen for your post. Beyond that, your analysis of the topic is compelling in it's own right. We'll be examining Lincon's character and postion in-depth in class this week.
Marco- E: Insightful work! Your response to the motivations for writing slave narratives was really interesting to me; the concept that "... writing a narrative would make a slave actually feel like a “somebody” makes a lot of sense. I hadn't seen it that way before.
Theresa- G: Your post is thoughtful and informed, though I feel that it was lacking a clear plan or organization. This can be avoided by using headings or paragraph breaks in posts requiring multiple thematic responses.
HISTORY IS A WEAPON
BY: HOWARD ZINN
one
-"Hence, it was Abraham Lincoln who freed the slaves, not John Brown. In 1859, John Brown was hanged, with federal complicity, for attempting to do by small-scale violence what Lincoln would do by large-scale violence several years later-end slavery." Why was Brown hanged and Lincoln proclaimed a national hero?
-"[He] spent money on clothing for his slaves, gave them holiday celebrations, built a dance hall for them." Depending on the way their master treated them, slaves were differently treated. Why couldn't abolitionists create laws that protected the slaves so slavery could still be around to create huge profit for the United States of America?
two
-Charles Ball was an African-American slave in the United States and born on 1780 in Maryland. His grandfather was the first generation that was forced to come to the United States from Africa. In slavery he married but was separated from his family. He attempted to reunite himself with his family by escaping but failed numerous times. On his last attempt he managed to escape and return to where his family was but he just got there to find out that his family was sold elsewhere.
-Walter Hawkins was born a slave in Maryland. He escaped and moved to Canada where he became a Methodist minister and ultimately became a bishop at Methodist Episcopal Church. He went on to write his autobiography From Slavery to Bishopric (1891).
three
-"Many Negroes understood that their status after the war, whatever their situation legally, would depend on whether they owned the land they worked on or would be forced to be semislaves for others." After the American Civil War when the Union won, African Americans knew that this was only the beginning of their struggle for equal rights. Although it was a huge first step it still accomplished little. We can later see how the African-Americans make progress throughout history in improving their everyday rights.
-"With billions of dollars worth of slaves gone, the wealth of the old South was wiped out. They now looked to the national government for help: credit, subsidies, flood control projects." With the defeat of slavery the south now depended mostly on the government for help as they weren't used to doing things on their own and didn't know how to work the economy without the help of slaves.
-"If we are not striving for equality, in heaven's name for what are we living?" After the war when blacks saw that little has changed many including Booker T. Washington thought of ways to motivate their people so they can change something they hated as a whole. In this case writing was the answer. Later on in history, others such as Martin Luther King Jr. and Rosa Parks followed up on what their ancestors did and continued the fight for equal rights.
four
-Many enslaved individuals decided to write narratives of their experiences with slavery because their pain and misery would spread around and get people motivated to do something about it. Not only did African slaves write narratives. Every type of person that has had a horrible experience if their life has the right to write about it. And so Holocaust survivors write, other genocide survivors write and many other people who have been hurt or seen someone hurt their kind write so people don't forget the real history. The purpose at looking at sources like this is to experience first hand accounts on the horrors that mankind has gone through for the better of our generation.
*After reading your comment, I concurred that my blog should have been more organized. So, I revised it. :)
Teresa Konopka
Block H
AP US
1) Two comments and/or questions on the major themes presented in this chapter:
--Docility and Insurrection
Howard Zinn’s Slavery Without Submission is a bit of a paradoxically oxymoron in itself. All throughout the chapter, slavery with submission is discussed. Even though, as history shows, slaves eventually broke free from submissiveness, there was a long period where tacit docility ruled. In John Little’s slave account, he talks of being profusely whipped copiously, yet seems to be able to do nothing about it. In Lawrence Levine’s piece, he merely discusses agrarian aspects of life and seems to care about nothing else. However, in 1829, resistance began to burgeon yet. David Walker published a pamphlet, which called for salve resistance. Loguen also began to insurrect by himself. In a letter, he talks of his personal freedoms, a term that many slaves hardly knew personally. In 1841, there was a bigger revolt with the Creole. Basically, slaves boarded the ship, took it over, and went to the British West Indies where slavery was frowned upon.
2) Two Slave Accounts from the archive on Spartacus online archive:
--Burton and Clay
Annie Burton experienced slavery firsthand and even wrote about her troubles and transgressions. In her Memories of Childhood’s Slavery Days, Burton shows what it is like to live as a slave girl. From whippings to families being torn apart, Burton saw it all. However, Burton was at least glad enough to live to see the day when slavery was abolished. She even wrote a biography on Abraham Lincoln in adulation. In Henry Clay Bruce’s account, he discusses how his bondage affected him. His Twenty-Nine Years a Slave told of how he was a slave from when he was very young. At that time, he recollects of his slave life as akin to incarceration. He recalls of working with cotton, seeing friends being sold, and finally to the time when he was no longer obligated to live a life of slavery.
3) Three compelling quotes to reflect on:
--Lincoln, Rawick, and Fortune
Lincoln himself, a famous proprietor of anti-slavery said, “I as much as any other man am in favor of having the superior position assigned to the white race.” While wanting to free the slaves, he twisted his rhetoric to win the presidential election and have Southerners believe he still supported them. When the transition between docility and independence became smoother throughout history, slaves began to shed their coat of compliance. As George Rawick explains, “The slaves went from being frightened human beings...slaves deserted the plantations, destroying the Smith's ability to supply its army.” In the 1870s, legislation began to extend a helping hand towards Negroes. In fact, in 1875, a Civil Rights Act outlawed the principle of denying Negroes access to hotels, theaters, railroads, and other public facilities. Even with the Civil War and Negroes’ involvement in the war effort, much leeway was still needed in black rights. As Fortune said, “The white man who shoots a Negro always goes free, while the Negro who steals a hog is sent to the chaingang for ten years.”
4) Why slaves individuals decided to write narratives of their experiences with slavery:
It is intriguing that so many slaves decided to write their accounts down on paper. Perhaps, they did this so that they would be remembered when they passed on. Or, it could be to encourage other formerly enslaved persons that they were not the only ones who knew what it felt like to finally be free. Most of all, former slaves probably wrote accounts in order to provide some sort of literature for young Negro children. After all, literature up until that point was solely written by white men. Former slaves proved to new generations that blacks could not only be freed, but that they could be published along with books written by whites.
Response:
Dominique's blog brings up many excellent points about slavery inequality. Her comparisons of capitalism with slavery make sense. After all, many whites feared that a loss of slavery would ruin America’s economy. It is also lugubrious that John Brown is not more recognized in abolitionism, when compared to Lincoln, as Dominique points out.
Jakub - S: thoughtful conclusion, though I feel the quotes chosen merit deeper analysis. Also, you didn't respond to another student's work. late.
Theresa: G+: Thoughtful and detailed post, late.
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