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 "Slavery Without Submission, Emancipation Without Freedom" of Howard Zinn’s People’s History of the United States at:
http://www.historyisaweapon.com/defcon1/zinnslaem10.html (or, better yet, read it in your own copy of the book!) Post a brief summary of the chapter and two comments and/or questions about the major themes presented in the text.
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 Monday, January 5.
Because I have asked for you to read a chapter of Zinn's book, anticipate a graded seminar on the chapter when we return from break. You are encouraged to prepare notes for your reference in the seminar, which will be graded as a quiz.
Chapter 10 in your textbook may be helpful in completing the assignment. Copious notes from the chapter will be due Thursday, January 8.
22 comments:
The reading in Chapter 9 "Slavery Without Submission,Emancipation Without Freedom" from Howard Zinns People's History of the United States disscuses the issues of slavery and plantation owners. The beginning of the chapter speaks about the issues of slavery and how rapid it was in the beginning of the civial war.Statistics from a plantation journal show that the amount of slaves that lived a long life spand was very low. Another problem with slavery was that families of slaves were always torn apart. Whipping was another problem. Borrow was a plantaion owner was said to be "no worse than the average". He treated the slaves alright by spending money on then for clothing, gave them holiday celebrations, and built dance halls for them. To keep the slaves in line he built a jail where there was his own form of punishment and whippings. Although many of the slave rebellions were in the Carribean and south america. Altough there was a rebelion in the United States in 1811 where four to five hundered slaves gatheres and went against the plantation of a Major Andry. They were armed with cane knives, axes,and clubs killing Andry son and wounding Andry. The slaves later had a resistance were they stole propety, running away, burning plantaions, killing overseers and masters, slowness of work and sabotage. The rebellion brought many songs and poems and interesting poem brought up in this chapter was by William Cullen Bryant. Which spoke about the mistreatment of the slaves. The slaves would work hard for the masters and were treated poorly. Bryant wrote this poem after visiting a corn shucking plant. "Sir, slavery will not be overthrown without excitement, a most tremendous excitement" was a quote by the famous Frederick Douglass. This ment that everyone needs to be excited about freedom without wanting it. The most famoous run away was Harriet Tubman. She made her freedom as a young women and became most famous due to being the conductor on the Underground Railroad.She escorted more then three hundred slaves to freedom.She quoted "There was one of two things I had a right to, liberty or death; if I could not have one, I would have the other; for no man should take me alive....". This is a strong quote because Harriet made a point that its either she fights for what is right or dies trying. Once the Brunswick canal was built they needed many workers so not only were slaves called upon but the Irish were as well. Slaves soon gained freedom in the North were they tried for ablishing slavery. In the end it was Abraham Lincoln who freed the slaves. Henry Bibb a child of slaves was one of seven children was seperated and sold to different plantations. After many attempts which all failed to save him and his family form slavery and be free he began lecturing on slavery and became an african american activist on slavery. After writing a book called The Voice of the Fugitive. Another important person in slave history was Martha Browne who was half black ,her mother whom was a slave, and half white ,her father who was unknown. After the death of her master she was sold and seperated from her mother later publishing her book in 1857 called Autobiography of a Female Slave. Many Enslaved individuals have chose to write books on their experiance to help people become familiar witht the hardships of slavery. When in the situations they were in it is important to put yourself in their shoes and learn about how hard it was for them. Since it was in the past the only way you can learn are from these books writen straight from those whom experianced it themselves.
In Chapter 9 "Slavery Without Submission,Emancipation Without Freedom" . Zinn is trying to say that ending slavery was the only choice that America had. He details it as "safe" and "profitable". The Whites had become scared of Black/Slave rebellion. On page 103, Zinn propses a very smart and itellectual question; "How can slavery be described?" Zinn says that the definition is hard to put together but 1932 historians saw it as " "perhaps the Negro's necessary transition to civilization". I found the story of a former slave quite intresting. The former slave said that he found happiness in being a slave because it kept the chaos down. Zinn points out that Whiteshad thaught that A.A were okay withe being slaves because in t.v shows they were always smiling. In the chapter, Zinn talks about how A.A had to work, die and starve for freedom. That even when slaves were declared free ; they still realy was not because the had to get jobs, shelter and food from the white people. To be free African Americans realy had to own 250 acres of land. Blacks recieved such harsh treatments even after they fought in the war. They recieved the most dirtiest jobs with less than three dollars pay. After a long day of work, Blacks were still belittled by the Whites on their way home. However, like Briana said in her post, artistic songs and poetry came out of the reconstruction era.
On page 144 historian James McPhearson says "without their help, the North could not have won the war as soon as it did, and perhaps it could not have won at all". Also,Judah Benjamin states that "if slaves will make good soliders, our whole theory of slavery is wrong". This made me feel that as the whites begun to see how capable A.A were in completing the same thibgs they were completing ( war, work, etc), they became more harsh toward the A.A.
The questions that I have is that after the Blacks fought in war and proved their capability, why didnt they earn their respect from the Whites? Where the whites scared of change? After amendments were passed that granted Black freedom and equality. Children had began going to school were they hadnt before. on page 148 Zinn talks about how seventy thousand African American children were going to school in 1876 whereas none had before. After the emacipation, segregation became widley known. Overall, the chapter gave proof that even though slavery was over ; some people still could not accept it.
1. "Kentucky. Befriended by his master's wife, Fredric became a well-treated house slave." ( Francis Fredric). This quote made me think that not all white people in the south accepted slavery. Thta some White people did in fact see blacks and whites equivelent. This quote can answer Zinn's question to why Whites were unable to see whites and blacks as equal even after the war. Maybe some did.
2. "After the Civil War he became an African Methodist Episcopal minister, serving in Salem, Massachusetts." ( Jacob Stroyer)This quote has given proof to Zinn's quote that after the war; their was no reason for the Whites to oppress the Blacks . That they have shown themselves worthy enough by dying for a country that enslaved them. After the war, many Blacks felt that they had the confidence and power to do anything like become a minister. At this time both races became somewhat equivelent. There were white ministers and black minister, white teachers and blacks teachers, etc.
3. "Burton moved to Boston where she became a domestic servant." ( Annie L. Burton). The story of Burton is quite intresting to me.When she became a servant ; all slaves were declared free. After years of opression why did Burton decide to live her life as a servant? Is it possible that it was all she knew how to do? Does this have a connection the kind of jobs A.A have in today's American society. It is a theory that the reason A.A (today) have low (lazy) jobs is because of all the work they put towards slavery. That the slaveship "runs through the blood". I dont belive in this theory but it is a theory.
Like for most people who write memoirs and biographies; I belive they do it to keep the memory alive and the struggle fresh in the minds of the future. The slaves probably don't want America to forget everything they endured. These primary sources are also used to guilt America forever and can also be used to handle future problems. Examining primary sources are very important because it eliminates "he said, she said" stuff. However, they are somewhat bias. They help historians figure out what kind of people felt what way and the factors that lead up to it. There are narraritives written about every bruise that the Earth has suffered. These days nothing go unheard. In the early days this was known as "muckracking", usually associated with Jacob Riss. Personally, I appreciate and love primary sources. They give me a better understanding. They can range from pictures to diaries.
Khadijat Olagoke
1) Howard Zinn in his “Slavery without Submissions, Emancipation without Freedom” outlines the numerous causes, motives, and outcomes of the Civil War. Zinn begin by explaining how the southern economy heavily relied on slave labor for cotton production, which demanded strenuous and unsanitary labor from the slaves. Furthermore, since the slave trade was illegal after 1808, keeping the already owned slaves was vital to preserving the agricultural economy. Regardless their importance for labor, owners tended to oppress their slaves by imposing harsh punishments, selling the slaves, and through extensive labor itself. These conditions, along with the lack of nutrition, appropriate shelter, clothing, and medical attention all amounted to the short life spans of the slaves. “Of the thirty-two who died in that period [on a certain plantation], only four reached the age of sixty, four reached the age of fifty, seven died in their forties, seven died in their twenties or thirties, and nine died before they were five years old” (Zinn 172). “In a single room were huddled, like cattle, ten or a dozen persons, men, women, and children.… Such were our houses. In these wretched hovels were we penned at night, fed by day; here were the sick – neglected” said Josiah Henson, a slave who escaped, in his autobiography describing the insalubrious living conditions.
This oppression led to many slave revolts, which resulted in countless casualties on both the white slave-owner population and the black slaves; many slaves also escaped. Certain poor whites were known to assist the escaping slaves. The slavery issue gained political attention as the discontent toward slavery grew, especially from slaves themselves and a small group of whites. Shortly after Lincoln’s election in 1860, 11 states seceded from the union sparking the war, a war fought by Lincoln, congress and the remaining states of the union primarily to preserve the union, in other word ‘the nation’. However, the Emancipation Proclamation of 1863 added some new motives to the war, “And the more blacks entered the war, the more it appeared a war for their liberation” (Zinn 192). Even during the war, African Americans continued to be the target, obviously by slave owners, poor whites who were angered by being drafted, and terrorists groups formed mainly in the South. Despite the efforts of the Confederate side, lack of cooperative slaves, slave labor to be exact, damaged their chances of success, even the Negro soldier law of 1865 did not aid the confederates.
Eventually, after approximately five years of fighting, the 13th amendment abolishing slavery was passed by the house in 1865. After the war period, freedmen continued to fight for equal rights and a few were able to succeed by gaining seats in office, participate in the country’s politics and cause legislature favoring their rights to be created. Even though emancipation was declared, slavery continued, as African Americans were now posed with the obligation to find a source of income, and certain freedmen were driven to seek their former owners to employ them which continued their dominion over the freedmen. Black Codes, passes during the Andrew Johnson presidency, also continued barricaded freedmen to be completely ‘free’ or equal to the whites. Even with all the persecution, several black men and also women continued to fight against white supremacy, through literature, protests and political participation. As a result of this supremacy, the African American fight for equality continued for many more decades.
Questions Regarding the Text:
- When was the A.A. fight for equality over, or does it still continue today?
- Would fewer slave revolts, where casualties occurred, in Antebellum America, changed the outcome of the war, and the views of whites, in Antebellum America, towards A.A.?
3) Compelling Quotes
(From accounts of Henry Bibb, Josiah Henson, and primary sources include in Howard Zinn’s “Slavery Without Submission, Emancipation Without Freedom”)
“Again and again the throng fell on his lacerated back. His cries grew fainter and fainter, till a feeble groan was the only response to the final blows.” (Josiah Henson)
Henson as an escaped slave was able to look back upon his previous life under a master, and shed light on the slave torture that frequently occurred until the late nineteenth century. Henson’s The Life of Josiah Henson is very revealing due to his narrative style, which includes a great deal of details.
“What was his [father of Henson] fate; neither my mother nor I have learned.”
(Josiah Henson)
Henson’s words, in The Life of Josiah Henson, reveals how families were often split due to the slave trade within the country, and those who were punished were often sold to new masters. A great deal of these slaves never met their family members again, even after emancipation.
“What to the American slave is your Fourth of July? I answer, a day that reveals to him more than all other days of the year, the gross injustice and cruelty to which he is the constant victim.” (Frederick Douglass).
In his speech, on July Fourth 1852, Douglass criticizes the American spirit of freedom, claiming that a nation, known for rights, liberties, and political participation, strives on slavery, on the labor of others. Douglass discretely labels America as a hypocrite nation that stands on false egalitarian principles, which deprive the slave of his god-given rights.
“…that he is not allowed to struggle against misfortune, corporal punishment, insults and outrages committed upon himself and family; and he is not allowed to help himself, to resist or escape the blow, which he sees impending over him.” (Henry Bibb)
Bibb’s statement summarizes the day-to-day struggle of slaves, as the slaves questioned their inferiority, especially those who understood the concepts of freedom and equality. Throughout his autobiography, The Life and Adventures of an American Slave,
“Lincoln got the praise for freeing us, but did he do it? He gave us freedom without giving us any chance to live to ourselves and we still had to depend on the southern white man for work, food, and clothing, and he held us out of necessity and want in a state of servitude, but little better than slavery.” (Thomas Hall)
Thomas Hall explains how emancipation was not the end of slavery, as long as slaves, now free, were still reliant on former southern slave-owners for survival. Moreover, that these southern whites were bound to continue persecuting the African Americans even after legislature proclaims discrimination illegal.
“We have built up your country; we have worked in your fields, and garnered your harvests, for two hundred and fifty years! And what do we ask of you in return? Do we ask you for compensation for the sweat our fathers bore for you-for the rears you have caused, and the hearts you have broken, and the lives you have curtailed, and the blood you have spilled? Do we ask retaliation? We ask it not. We are willing to let the dead past bury its dead; but we ask you now for our RIGHTS” (Henry MacNeal Turner)
Similar to Hall, Henry MacNeal Turner construes the existence of slavery after the 13th amendment, justifying the African American fight for equality and against segregation. Turner wisely uses the suffering whites caused upon slaves and even free African Americans to prove why they deserve ‘rights’, besides just being human beings who naturally deserve rights.
4) Innumerable slaves documented their experiences as slaves, perhaps to allow others to comprehend the suffering, deaths, sacrifices, and the struggle against the white elite of the nation. Moreover, people like Harriet Tubman, Nat Turner and others probably documented their lives to aid the resistance against white supremacy, to possibly illustrate to the white and black populations the importance of equality and to reveal the atrocious actions of the slave owners, along with the overseers. As Henry Bibb states, “No one can imagine my feelings in my reflecting moments, but he who has himself been a slave,” slave accounts were most likely created to preserve the memories of slaves, in order to allow people to sympathize their pain, even after their deaths. It is crucial to read primary sources from the Civil War, in order to completely understand the events that occurred during this war. Primary sources, like those from slaves and other parties involved in the war, can allow people to understand the opposing views that led to fighting, as well as the various circumstances that affected the conflict between the Union and the Confederacy, along with the conflict between Slaves and White Supremacy.
-In Response to Khadijat-
Answering Your Question: Blacks fought in war and proved their capability, why didn’t they earn their respect from the Whites?
Well according to Zinn, whites were not concerned with abolition or the fate of the African Americans, only a select few sided with the A.A. during the war. Yes, those African Americans who fought in war definitely proved their strength and deserved respect, especially equality, but southern whites wanted to preserve their right to enslave, while northern whites wished to sustain the union and the nation. The issue of slavery only became significant because the large number of slaves who fought and died in the war, as well as the resistance to slavery from slaves, freed African Americans, and a small group of whites. Overall, a great deal of whites were angered by the casualties of the war, that they began target the African Americans in the nation, accusing them for the deaths of the whites in the war.
Slavery without Submission by Howard Zinn displays the relationship between the economy and the slaves. In the South, the slaves worked on cotton fields, producing mass amounts of cotton. As the cotton industry increased, the slave population did as well. Zinn believed the only way to end slavery was to have a rebellion from the slaves or just have a war between the two sides, the north and south. Slavery was one of the biggest productions in the world. The cotton produced by them increased from one thousand tons of cotton a year to a million tons of cotton a year. When the slave trade became illegal in 1808, the slave owners did whatever they could to keep their slaves to continue the mass production of cotton. In a Negro's Necessary transition to civilization, stories were told by slaves on their everyday lives. Many told of how many whippings they would receive in one day. I think the slaves decided to write on their on behalf, because they wanted the world to know what they felt as they lived there lives. The horrific experience may changes someones mind or opinion on slavery. After reading some of those excerpts, you can almost imagine the pain and torture the slaves went through.
"It would take either a full-scale slave rebellion or a full-scale war to end such a deeply entrenched system."
This quote is taken from Zinn's perspective on the slaves and their production of cotton. He believed the only way to end slavery was to either have them rebel in great numbers of have a war between the anti-slaves and the pro-slaves. He was somewhat correct when he made this statement. It was not the war that ended slavery but Abraham Lincolns abolishment of it.
"How can slavery be described? Perhaps not at all by those who have not experienced it."
This quote taken from Zinn's Slavery Without Submission, says how one cannot feel the same pain as those that suffered through slavery. Many today feel sorry and sort of felt the slaves pain, but this quote is saying that if you have not experienced the horrible moments of slavery.
"Running away was much more realistic than armed insurrection"
This quote is saying how it would be easier to escape and run away from your owner then going up against and fighting your owner. Even in large numbers it would be smarter to run away then fight because the owners of all the slaves would eventually seek revenge.
-Brandon DiMatteo
1- Chapter nine basically explains how slavery developed into such a necessity in the United States. When economic pressure was put on the south, the need for slaves increased as the demand for crops, produce, and epically tobacco increased as a larger demand of this supplies was set on the south, the higher the demand the more the south had to produce and the more slaves they needed in order to reach that demand. For instance Thomas Jefferson insisted on having an Agrarian Republican, this put a major economic emphasis on the plantations and farms in the south which would inevitable lead to a dependency of slave labor. Andrew Jackson another president who would favored the south by increasing their economic dependency by destroying the second national bank which benefited the south. After reading this chapter it was obvious that that major problem in the United States was how it was divided in such major ways and slavery defiantly played a huge role in this. Weather it was North over South, Whites over Blacks, Americans over Native Americans, or Slavery over equality. A question I had when I read chapter nine was if the United States were less divided over other factors then slavery, then do u think that the civil war could have been avoided? Also how do u think Americans have superiority over Native Americans played a role in Americans have superiority over African Americans?
2- “At times I would rise up, a flash of energetic freedom would dart through my soul, accompanied with a faint beam of hope, that flickered for a moment, and then vanished. I sank down again, mourning over my wretched condition. I was sometimes prompted to take my life, and that of Covey, but was prevented by a combination of hope and fear. My sufferings on this plantation seem now like a dream rather than a stern reality. “ -Frederick Douglass
Frederick Douglass makes a valid point at showing how he felt the endless cycle of slavery and how it slowly destroyed any hopes of freedom he had. This shows how slaves were not only put down by their enslavement but they felt completely depressed by it. Frederick Douglass states how “ My sufferings on this plantation seem now like a dream rather than a stern reality” showing that it was so terrible that he does not feel at sometimes as if it was true and that it was rather a sick dream he would never imaged possible, but was.
“Pious Mr. Pike brushed up his hair till it stood upright, and, in deep, solemn tones, began: "Give strict heed unto my words. You are rebellious sinners. Your hearts are filled with all manner of evil. 'Tis the devil who tempts you. God is angry with you, and will surely punish you, if you don't forsake your wicked ways. Instead of serving your masters faithfully, which is pleasing in the sight of your heavenly Master, you are idle, and shirk your work. God sees you. You tell lies. God hears you. Instead of being engaged in worshiping him, you are hidden away somewhere, feasting on your master's substance; tossing coffee-grounds with some wicked fortuneteller, or cutting cards with another old hag. Your masters may not find you out, but God sees you, and will punish you. You must forsake your sinful ways, and be faithful servants.” -Harriet Jacobs
After reading Harriet Jacobs story I realized why slaves were not tempted to leave the farms they worked on. This quote shows how the slaves were told that they were sinner and God would punish them if they tried to run away and become free. This new preceptive really gives and insight to all the lies that their owners had put into their heads. Slave owners were basically scaring their slaves into staying and not trying to run away.
“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. “ -Frederick Douglass
The clothing that Frederick Douglass describes shows how slaves were really mistreated. The amount of clothing slaves were given would not last them all year. It was unfair that they had to work so hard in such terrible conditions, it really makes me see how mistreated and how horrible the slaves were treated. Slaves were excepted to do o much work and they had were not even given the necessary things that they would need to survive.
4- The reason that so many slaves would have wanted to write about their slaves experiences because they wanted people to see another side of slavery. Most white people only saw slavery as a benefit and did not understand what it was like for a slave. I think that looking at slavery from a slaves perspective makes it much more real, and I feel it is extremely important in defending the north in the civil war since it shows how cruelly slaves were treated. These experiences shows slavery for what it truly is and I think that is extremely important for me as a student to see a situation from all preceptive s and the preceptive of a slave is one of the most important when trying to look at American slavery.
In Response to Khadijat
Your Question: Blacks fought in war and proved their capability, why didn’t they earn their respect from the Whites?
One of the main reasons why the Whites let the slaves fight in the war was because they were used in the front lines. The slaves were also only let into the war because the White needed more shoulders in the war otherwise the whites would not have let the slaves join the war. The slaves were on both the North and South sides of the war, so it was necessarily all because they wanted to be there.
Katie McSherry
Robert Keller
Chapter 9 in A People’s History of the United States by Howard Zinn is about slaves beginning to rebel. In 1860, there were four million slaves living in the south. Many slave owners began to treat their slaves somewhat better by building them meeting places and giving them holiday celebrations. While it seemed like a good idea, the plan backfired on many slave owners. Slaves used this to their advantage. They took these new privileges for granted and planned rebellions in hope of gaining freedom. After rebellions such as the Nat Turner Rebellion sparked abolitionists to write letters of protest to President Lincoln. Lincoln then passed the Emancipation Proclamation, however the newly freed slaves had little freedom and faced harsh discrimination in the southern states.
Did the abolitionists speak out about the conditions the newly freed slaves faced?
(1) Horace Greeley, letter to President Abraham Lincoln (19th August, 1862)
I do not intrude to tell you - for you must know already - that a great proportion of those who triumphed in your election, and of all who desire the unqualified suppression of the rebellion now desolating our country, are solely disappointed and deeply pained by the policy you seem to be pursuing with regard to the slaves of the Rebels.
We think you are strangely and disastrously remiss in the discharge of your official and imperative duty with regard to the emancipating provisions of the new Confiscation Act. Those provisions were designed to fight slavery with liberty. They prescribe that men loyal to the Union, and willing to shed their blood in the behalf, shall no longer be held, with the nation's consent, in bondage to persistent, malignant traitors, who for twenty years have been plotting and for sixteen months have been fighting to divide and destroy our country. Why these traitors should be treated with tenderness by you, to the prejudice of the dearest rights of loyal men, we cannot conceive.
Fremont's Proclamation and Hunter's Order favoring emancipation were promptly annulled by you; while Halleck's Number Three, forbidding fugitives from slavery to Rebels to come within his lines - an order as unmilitary as inhuman, and which received the hearty approbation of every traitor in America - with scores of like tendency, have never provoked even your remonstrance.
This quote is from abolitionist Horace Greeley. Greeley felt President Lincoln should have freed the Confederate’s slaves before the Civil War broke out. I feel Lincoln freeing the slaves before the war would not have mattered because the Confederate’s would have legalized slavery.
(2) President Abraham Lincoln, letter to Horace Greeley (22nd August, 1862)
If there be those who would not save the Union unless they could at the same time destroy slavery. I do not agree with them. My paramount object in this struggle is to save the Union, and is not either to save or destroy slavery. If I could save the Union without freeing any slave, I would do it; and if I could save it by freeing all the slaves, I would do it; and if I could do it by freeing some and leaving others alone, I would also do that.
President Lincoln was more concerned about saving the Union than abolishing slavery. I too feel the stability of the country was more important at the time. However, I feel slavery was immoral and unjust.
3) Angelina Grimke, An Appeal to the Christian Women of the South (1836)
Some of your own slaves yourselves. If you believe slavery is sinful, set them at liberty, "undo the heavy burdens and let the oppressed go free." If they wish to remain with you, pay them wages, if not let them leave you. Should they remain teach them, and have them taught the common branches of an English education; they have minds and those minds ought to be improved. So precious a talent as intellect, never was given to be wrapt in a napkin and buried in the earth. It is the duly of all, as far as they can, to improve their own mental faculties, because we are commanded to love God with all our minds, as well as with all our hearts, and we commit a great sin, if we forbid or prevent that cultivation of the mind in others, which would enable them to perform this duty. Teach your servants then to read and encourage them to believe it is their duty to learn, if it were only that they might read the Bible.
Angelina Grimke was a female abolitionist from the South. Angelina, along with her sister Sarah, urged Christian women to free their family’s slaves.
After the ratification of the Emancipation Proclamation, many former slaves wrote narratives about their experiences as slaves. There were many reasons behind their motives. The newly freed slaves wanted to take advantage of their freedom to learn to read and write. Some of the former slaves wanted to give their former masters a guilt trip. Personally, I think giving the former slaveowners a guilt trip was a good way for the freed slaves to lash out. Rioting or murdering former slave owners would cause the white Americans to rethink the Emancipation Proclamation. While they were considered free, the freed slaves had their freedoms limited and faced discrimination in the south.
In response to Katie, I also feel the slaves who fouht in the Civil War were used as pawns. The whites used them on the front lines because they were disposable. The slaves were forced to fight. They recieved no recognition because they were treated as property.
In Howard’s Zinn’s “A Peoples History of the United States” Chapter 9, “Slavery without Submissions, Emancipation without Freedom” he discusses slavery as if the stability of America depended on it. Due to the amount of slaves in the south there was a mass production of goods. As the numbers increased for the amount of slaves so did the production. For people in the South slavery was looked upon as the source that well established America. While the North was coming up with ways to end slavery, there were slaves that feared the end of slavery because the feared the violence that would ensue. On April 12th 1861, the Civil War began under the direction of President Abraham Lincoln. He successfully led the country through its greatest internal crisis, the American Civil War preserving the Union and ending slavery in the South and North. Even After the Civil War the African Americans were not truly free. Howard Zinn talks about how the African Americans had to work to their death to reach freedom. The Civil War was not the all ending fight to keep slavery away, you still had whites in both the North and South that were against the African Americans being freed. When the African Americans became “free” who did they have to work for to live, eat and be sheltered? The African Americans had to work for the whites. The white population gave out the filthiest and most gruesome jobs to the blacks. The African Americans would take the jobs too because they wanted to live a good life with as much money as they could make. Even though the jobs they received paid so little that they could not afford to live in the nicest environment. They weren’t considered a free black man unless they owned approximately 250 acres of land. In agreement with Khadjht and Brianna, through these times some of the worlds most creative and intelligent minds were produced.
Harriet Tubman escaped slavery by the Underground Railroad. She had nineteen successful trips through the Underground Railroad saving at least 300 slaves in the South. During her time spent in the North, she was disappointed by the failure of the Harper’s Ferry, which then led her to conduct a speaking tour of the North. Harriet Tubman was an advocate for women’s suffrage. At the time of the Civil War Harriet Tubman worked as a nurse, scout and an intelligence agent for the Union Army (North). From her former activities as a conductor for the Underground Railroad her duties as a scout for the army came much easier. Harriet Tubman was a slave that knew what she wanted, and she wanted to be free. While her family and friends (other slaves) were scared for their lives to escape the plantations Harriet Tubman was not. She was persistent with her goal to be free and she believed she was being guided by God to help her escape. "There was one of two things I had a right to, liberty or death; if I could not have one, I would have the other; for no man should take me alive...."(Harriet Tubman)
Frederick Douglass was born as Frederick Bailey. He was the son of a white man and a black slave. He was sent to live with the Auld family in Baltimore, where the women of the household taught young Frederick to read. When the Auld’s died. Frederick Douglass was sent back to his Maryland plantation. Frederick Douglass later than escaped to New York City in 1833 and legally changes his name over to Frederick Douglass so he could not be found and captured. Later, he moved to New Bedford, Massachusetts, where he worked as a labourer. After giving speech at a meeting in 1841, he was given a job as an agent and lecturer for American Anti-Slavery Society. In 1845 he had great success and published his autobiography, the Narrative of the life of Frederick Douglass. During the Civil War Douglass was a Radical Republican who tried to persuade President Abraham Lincoln to allow former slaves of the South join the Union Army to fight against the Confederates. He was also a big supporter of women’s suffrage just like Harriet Tubman. “What to the American slave is your Fourth of July? I answer, a day that reveals to him more than all other days of the year, the gross injustice and cruelty to which he is the constant victim.” (Frederick Douglass). Frederick Douglass’s idea that America is a country that strives on the backbone of its labourer’s is similar to Howard Zinn’s idea that America’s stability comes from the slaves and their work.
"How can slavery be described? Perhaps not at all by those who have not experienced it.”
This quote from Howard Zinn's "A People's History of the United States" expresses the emotions of a slavery from that time. From an outsider, someone who has not experienced the torture and hard larbour should not be allowed to talk about it as if they know what it was like.
"They say slaves are happy, because they laugh, and are merry. I myself and three or four others, have received two hundred lashes in the day, and had our feet in fetters; yet, at night, we would sing and dance, and make others laugh at the rattling of our chains..."(John Little)
A quote from John Little, a former slave, as written in "A People's History of the United States" Chapter 9 “Slavery without Submissions, Emancipation without Freedom”. Some people believed the slaves were happy with their lives because they laughed and smiled like others. I interpreted this quote as, sometimes smiling and laughing keeps people from noticing how bad of a situation they are in. The laughter wouldn't set them free physically but mentally it helped.
The reason why every slave who were freed and/or escaped wrote a narrative about their life because they wanted others to know what it was like being a slave. they wanted people to be see and try to understand what it was like and what they went through so they could understand why slavery needed to be stopped.
Agreeing with what Brianna Kohm said, "When in the situations they were in it is important to put yourself in their shoes and learn about how hard it was for them. Since it was in the past the only way you can learn are from these books writen straight from those whom experianced it themselves." when you are not there during the time it's hard to get the full experience to learn about something that's being changed years through. if your to read a journal of a slave who was there than your more likely to learn more from the journal than you would a story from someone who wrote the slaves experience that has no tie to the time at all.
In Chapter nine "Slavery Without Submission, Emancipation Without Freedom" Howard Zinn discusses the relationship between southern economy and slavery. The southern economy was portrayed as to be heavily reliant on slave labor for production and farming. With slaves escaping and starting rebellion it was vital for slave owners to keep their slaves in order to keep up with demands for cotton. Slaves were even more essential for southern farmers due to slave trade being illegal as of 1808. By banning slave trade wouldn't it be obvious that slaves would be in demand even more and the importation of slaves even more on demand? Slaves seem to be a commodity and were used to the fullest extent in order to keep up with demand. There had been quite a few instances where slaves had started a rebellion. Some rebellions had been demolished even before it had begun this lead to hearings where the prosecuted were hung. The trials seems quite pointless since, the slaves were most likely in a major disadvantage and were most likely going to be sentenced to death anyway. This seems to be a major cause of why the Civil War had begun in the first place. Another reason seemed to be the election of Lincoln's election in 1860 since, 11 states seceded from the union. The union seemed to have some key advantages such as, the Emancipation Proclamation. Since, it seems that the Proclamation would liberate the slaves. The Southern states attempt to negate the Emancipation Proclmation seemed to be the "Negro Soldier Law." This law was that if slaves enlisted in the army they would be set free after the war had been over but before this law could have a major impact the war was practically over. Eventually slaves were given "freedom" with the senate passing the 13th Amendment which signified the end of slavery. Though, the 13th Amendment signified the end of slavery the segregation of blacks from whites was clearly obvious. "The violence mounted through the late 1860s and early 1870s as the Ku Klux Klan organized raids, lynchings, beatings, burnings. For Kentucky alone, between 1867 and 1871, the National Archives lists 116 acts of violence." Violent hate crimes continued and segregation was still strong and that urges the question were the blacks truly free from slavery?
2) Henry Clay Bruce
Isaac Mason
3)"At Judge Applegate's I was kept busy every minute from sunrise to sunset, without being allowed to speak a word to anyone." (Henry Clay Bruce)
This quote makes me wonder on how slaves were able to work under such fierce working conditions. Also how slavery had affected slaves first hand. Many slaves seemed to be worked for extended amounts of time.
"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." (Issac Mason)
This quote seems reminds me of how the Declaration of Independence wasn't referring to all men. The sheer hypocrisy in this certain situation is astounding that a black man would be beaten if walking past two or more white men.
"They were then called runaways, or runaway Negroes, and when not caught would stay away from home until driven back by cold weather.” (Henry Clay Bruce)
Many slaves at the times seemed to runaway most likely to the North to gain freedom. This draws to the conclusion that slavery was horrible and not humane that people had to runaway just to be liberated.
4) There are many reasons why a previous slave would write a narrative of their enslavement. First off so others could know the horrors of being a slave as well as the treatment of slaves. As well as to make their story apart of history and to never be forgotten. My reasoning for why previous slaves would write narratives because I believe nationalism plays a key role in the reason. Nationalism seems to make everything a little less "darker" than what it truly was. One prime example is Christopher Columbus who was known to be a great man but was really a thief, killer and liar. Children in the United States are taught at a young age that Christopher Columbus was friends with all the natives and never fought which was quite contradictory to who he really was. My opinion is that the previous slaves would write narratives so that even with nationalism with their brainwashing tactics people are able to see the truth in a sea of lies. Another reason that seems quite obvious is to show that previously owned slaves were well educated though not completely true. Studying first hand sources is important because, first hand sources are usually the most accurate. Also because the slaves were experiencing slavery first hand unlike the owners who was just the master of them. A third party source is never as good as a first party source. It is important in the studying of slavery in the south to have the slaves perspective on slavery since, they were experiencing it first hand.
Response to Simit:
Simit you have very valid facts that blacks seem to still face some degree of slavery after being emancipated. "Even though emancipation was declared, slavery continued, as African Americans were now posed with the obligation to find a source of income, and certain freedmen were driven to seek their former owners to employ them which continued their dominion over the freedmen." That is a valid statement because getting a valid income after just be emancipated would be very difficult. Especially, since whites and blacks were heavily segregated after being free with the 13th Amendment.
Ho Lee
H Block
"Slavery Without Submission, Emancipation without Freedom" details the main problems with slavery and the causes of the civil war. Slaves were often torn apart from the families and sold to far away distances. Often slave masters would beat the slaves until they completed the work. Borrow, a plantation owner, treated his slaves well. He spent money on clothing, dance halls, and for holiday celebrations. On his plantation he had a jail in which he used to punish and whip the slaves.
Slaves began to resist and felt that the power came in numbers.
The Civil War begins after Lincoln is elected. 11 states leave the Union which is the beginning of the war. After about 5 years of fighting the 13th Amendment which abolishes slaver is passed in 1865. After the slaves were freed they were still not treated as equals.
Questions:
I am also curious about why the blacks were not seen as equals after they proved themselves in the war?
Was slavery the blacks necessary transition to civilization?
Part 2
Quotes and Reflections
"A slave may be bought and sold in the market like an ox. He is liable to be sold off to a distant land from his family. He is bound in chains hand and foot; and his sufferings are aggravated a hundred fold, by the terrible thought, that he is not allowed to struggle against misfortune, corporal punishment, insults and outrages committed upon himself and family; and he is not allowed to help himself, to resist or escape the blow, which he sees impending over him. I was a slave, a prisoner for life; I could possess nothing, nor acquire anything but what must belong to my keeper. No one can imagine my feelings in my reflecting moments, but he who has himself been a slave. " Henry Bibb
Hnery Bibb's quote is extremely compelling. Bibb's description of his life as a slave. He is saying that the whites did not see the blacks as humans but more like animals that can be traded or sold at the owners discretion. There was no escaping your beatings that you see coming.As Bibb said, you are a prisoner for life.
"If a slave man and woman wished to marry, a party would be arranged some Saturday night among the slaves. The marriage ceremony consisted of the pair jumping over a stick. If no children were born within a year or so, the wife was sold." Annie Burton
Slaves were married by their masters and were forced to have children. The masters wanted them to have children so that they didn't have to buy slaves, but when the child grew up he was already born a slave. If there were no children, the master would sell the wife splitting up a family.
"They were then called runaways, or runaway Negroes, and when not caught would stay away from home until driven back by cold weather.” Henry Clay Bruce
Slaves who got away stayed away for as long as possible. When the cold weather came they were forced to go back since they had no place to stay in the cold.
Many slaves wrote accounts of being slaves. Many reasons could fit the answer as to why they wrote them. Slaves most likely wrote these narratives not thinking that people today would be seeing them but so they can keep a memory alive. As Khadijat said, people write memoirs not for other people, but for themselves as a reminder of what they have accomplished or suffered. Slaves narratives make a good primary source, since it is what they have written and is what they suffered. Historians can not write what it was like to be a slave unless they themselves were slaves.
(Sorry for multiple posts, i started one and my internet closed on me so i wanted to be safe and do it by part without losing it.)
"Slavery Without Submission, Emancipation Without Freedom" from Howard Zinn's A People's History of the United States begins with a discussion of the importance of slavery. By the nineteenth century, slavery had become the foundation of wealth in America, resulting in support based on "overpowering practicality." However, by this time, fear of rebellion had also begun to spread throughout the slave-owning South. Despite numerous attempts, none proved to be very effective, making running away much more effective than armed insurrection" (Zinn 175). And so, the solitary escapes to freedom proved to be more powerful of a spark to anti-slavery movements than anything else. The Fugitive Salve Act, though meant to restore the slave population in the South, was met with great and quite predictable distaste. It also called for the attention of all people, from the slave-owning Whites to the freed Blacks who could now be punished for their escape. This set the stage for one of the greatest movements in America, when black abolitionists and white abolitionists joined together to create a revolutionary stir in society. Referring to this moment of history, Fredrick Douglass spoke one of his most famous quotes, "Sir, slavery will not be overthrown without excitement, a most tremendous excitement." As always, dissatisfaction led to war. The Civil War ended happily for the slaves, as Abraham Lincoln finally did what many before him failed to see the importance of doing- he freed the slaves. Of course, the Blacks' stories of their first years of freedom are not stories of pretty gardens and wonderful food; they are stories of hardship. However, they gained the freedom to achieve equality for themselves, even though it meant owning 250 acres of land.
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“I had crossed the line. I was free; but there was no one to welcome me to the land of freedom. I was a stranger in a strange land.” -Harriet Tubman
Harriet Tubman, an escaped slave herself, helped lead hundreds of other slaves into the North, where they would be free from their owner. However, as she says in this quote, freedom from one place doesn’t mean acceptance in another. Though perhaps few feel welcome when they first come to a new place, the situation with Blacks required more than simply a batch of home-baked cookies. Though technically part of society after the 13th Amendment, Blacks were still considered to be part of a different sphere, as women would continue to be. The social boundary between Blacks and Whites was not a boundary that could be destroyed within the one day Lincoln declared all slaves free.
“Lincoln got the praise for freeing us, but did he do it? He gave us freedom without giving us any chance to live to ourselve and we still had to depend on the southern white man for work, food, and clothing.” -ex-slave Thomas Hall
This response to the Federal Writer’s Project is, in my opinion, unfair. Who, in the world, was ever blessed enough to be provided with completely fair circumstances when they came to a new land (which, essentially, the Blacks did)? Whcih culture has ever experience full acceptance when confronted with another? Think about the Catholics and the Protestants, the Europeans and the Native Americans, the Calvinists and the Spaniards. Of course, Blacks also faced the obstacle of a separate social/racial sphere to overcome and the need to meet higher standards to become citizen, but blaming the person who gave them the freedom to pursue that citizenship and break those social boundaries was not fair.
“A battle lost or won is easily described, understood, and appreciated, but the moral growth of a great nation requires reflection, as well as observation, to appreciate it.” -Fredrick Douglass.
This quote is, I believe, very true and reflective of the emotions felt during this time of the later nineteenth century. Slaves were freed, and Blacks had gained freedoms they had hoped to have for centuries while working for their owners. However, the described “moral growth of a great nation” would require a unity between the black and white members of society. It would require the Whites to accept the black population and the Blacks to recognize the positive ideas within a white population. Of course, that wouldn’t happen for a long time.
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During such a time of reconstruction, literature and narratives from freed slaves was plentiful. And this was so for good reason. These years were a time of "re-birth" for the black culture, a time when they finally gained the freedom of speech and expression. Narratives came to exist as ways to remember their roots and past. They were also written to show the strength of their culture and to give hope to a new generation. With such an empowering era came a whole ton of empowering works of literature, speeches, and art. Simply, I agree with Sam E when she says, "they wanted people to be see and try to understand what it was like and what they [slaves] went through so they could understand why slavery needed to be stopped
Aleksandra Makowska
Comments:
1. The title of this chapter for Howard Zinn's People's History of the United States "Slavery Without Submission, Emancipation Without Freedom" surprised me because they show some similarity, but, it shows the some differences between the conflict on about slavery. After all, slavery was a major impact on the American lives.
2. Taking over the government was, along with slavery, a problem mentioned in chapter 9. “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.” When I saw this quote, it made me think a little bit about how the government was and how it changed so much.
Quotes:
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 seemed really well to use because people suffered so much more than they do today. Tubman had no choice but to be punished and whipped even when she was in a lot of pain.
2. "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 is another really great one because is shows the unfair treatment the women went through and it took the women a long way to get to where we are today. Although, sometimes women are still not treated as equally as men are.
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)). This quote is the final one that seemed compelling to me because it showed the unfair treatment of color. Not only were women mistreated, but black men were treated unfairly as oppose to white men. Today, it has changed a lot but racism is still a touchy subject.
Last part:
Slaves were treated awfully long ago in the United States. Many of these slaves began to write their own stories of their experiences with slavery. Other slaves probably tried to write stories to not only take their minds off of their slave work, but to get the mixed feelings away. Also, the slaves wanted to do narratives to learn and educate others. Who knows maybe slaves wrote their narratives for people in the future to see what they went through. Studying the accounts left by the slaves plays a huge part in the uncovering of American history. By reading these narratives, people can see what slavery was actually like in the South during the time of slavery in the United States. Maybe people will realize what actually happened and be grateful for the generation and freedom they live in today.
1)-"Four to five hundred slaves gathered after a rising at the plantation of a Major Andry." This was stated in Chapter 9 in Howard Zinns book. Why didnt all of the slaves revolt when others started doing it?
-"So Lincoln distinguished between his "personal wish" and his "official duty."" Most presidents did what they wanted so what made him do what he thought was right for others?
"They say slaves are happy, because they laugh, and are merry. I myself and three or four others, have received two hundred lashes in the day, and had our feet in fetters; yet, at night, we would sing and dance, and make others laugh at the rattling of our chains." This just shows how they keep moving foward even though people try to keep them back. They learned to live with it even thought they shouldnt have too.
3)-"My mother and I were separated when I was but an infant--before I knew her as my mother. It is a common custom, in the part of Maryland from which I ran away, to part children from their mothers at a very early age." (Frederick Douglass, Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass (1845))To take an infant away from his mother for no reason at all is not right.
-"The memory of my happy, care-free childhood days on the plantation, with my little white and black companions, is often with me."(Annie L. Burton, Memories of Childhood's Slavery Days (1909)) This quote reminds me of something that was stated in Zinns Chapter 9 when a slave says that they get beat but still rejoyce, because in another part she says, -"We children had no supper, and only a little piece of bread or something of the kind in the morning." She barely had anything to eat and her and the rest of the slave were beat, yet she says she looks back on the good memories of her childhood.
-"In these and various other such like employments, the more avaricious slaveholders keep their slaves busy a good part of every Sabbath."(Lewis Clarke, Narrative of the Sufferings of Lewis Clark (1845)) These slave owners didnt even give the slaves a break when it came time to their holy day, which on the slave owners day they could not be interupted.
4)These slaves most likely wrote about their lives in these narratives so they can tell their story. The slaves were treated no better than the animals they were taking care of. The slaveowners had no respect for the slave, in fact they beat them every day. The best way to get information is from a primary source, who better to say what went on than someone who lived it. Hearing this from the slaves point of view really shows how bad the conditions really were. Everyone knows that the conditions were obviously horrible for the slave,but its good to she what was going on in their heads at the time.
I agree with Katie it brings more reality to the whole slavery situation, becasue it really allows everyone to see how horrible the slaves were treated. It also allows everyone to relate more to the slave when you hear about when they were your age. When people hear it form the person and not just what happened it makes it more interesting, because it brings in different things that happened to different slave. There is always the same few events that are brought up. It makes the topic more interesting, and it gives the slaves a voice. A voice that they never had before.
Brief Summary:
From my reading of chapter 9 in Howard Zinn's "A Peoples History of The United States" titled 'Slavery Without Submission, Emancipation Without Freedom', I see this time period in American history to have huge historic value, but lack any sort of historic change. Throughout the chapter, Howard Zinn describes the time period of slavery abolishment as "a new era for capitalism", but in short, pretty much nothing changed when slavery was abolished. According to Zinn's book, when slavery was in fact abolished and no more, slaves did leave their ex-masters property, and they were said to have no sort of foundation, or money, nor any idea of what to do with themselves. When slaves left their masters, they had to support themselves and their family (if they had). Jobs were needed for the new founded free people, and they had to obtain jobs near. Since they were already near farms and manors in need of labor, why not work there? So, the cycle started once more as slaves retreated back onto the farms to work for paid wages. But many farm owners found tricky and sneaky ways to avoid actual payment, and use another form of currency instead. For example, Thomas Fortune, a young black editor of the New York Globe recalls the time when his owner would pay the slaves with something called credits. The slaves could then use the credits at a store already owned by the master, so basically, in order to eat and drink, the slaves had to work for it. The Civil War did give a push for the equality of blacks, but was not the engine to set it off the ground, and into flight. Zinn starts off chapter nine with a bunch of statistics and numbers, proving how large the increscent of slave use had become, and some philosophy on the usage of slavery in the South. Then, Zinn begins to interpret quotes given from books, common folk from that time period, and from politicians. Howard Zinn expresses this slavery contradiction with poems, questions to self, speeches, and flashbacks of the time period from common folk. After, Zinn begins to explain how the media played a major role in informing the public (mostly the blacks) about the status at hand. Stories reach out to the newspapers, and such stories and news traveled like wildfire, due to the rapid increasing expansion of railroads throughout the US. Howard Zinn does not talk too much about the conditions on the farms and manors, because the audience most likely already have some sort of clue to what kind of condition the blacks had to live in during those wicked times. As the media spread horror stories or lynching and how the government was trying to enact laws to give blacks more equality but less then the whites, rioting eventually ensued. Slaves ran away from their masters, and attempted to start a new life for themselves. Howard Zinn describes the Underground Railroad as a system that only worked with teamwork and time. As people from across the country attempt to save people from slavery, racism and wealth became a key player in determining the path of slavery. As the Civil War went on and on, the wealthy were able to avoid the draft from the army only if they paid a fine of 300 dollars. Since the poor and middle class folk could not afford such an expensive "get out of jail free card", the two groups argued over the problem. Racism began to drive the North and South further apart now more then ever. As slave’s traveled around to find jobs, other saw the big picture and wanted to try to buy some land to start their own farm. One of statistics Zinn uses in his book is: out of 16,000 acres of property open in the Carolina Island, only 2000 of it was bought by black folk. The rest went to white farmers. In the end, Zinn explains that equality was never achieved when Lincoln set the slaves free on that faithful day. Slaves still had to work, were still treated unfairly (such as jail sentences that were always in favor of the white), lower wages then the white (such as 12 dollars for the white man, 10 dollars for the black man, each building a railroad, doing the exact same job), and especially how some farmers actually went back to their old ways and "hired" the blacks onto the farm to work. The 13th Amendment seems to have done nothing for the slaves, except give them the name worker, not slave.
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Comments:
-The slaves were not actually set free when Lincoln proposed the 13th Amendment. Slaves were now free people, but these "free people" still needed money and shelter. The slaves thought too quickly and rationally about leaving a place that had food and water. When slaves all across American fled their masters, they did in fact celebrate like there was no tomorrow. Slavery, as Howard Zinn describes it, still continued, due to the fact that all of a sudden a couple million free people needed jobs for food and shelter. So slaves went to work on other farms. These so called “free people” then began the process all over again, as farmers began to skimp out on payment, and eventually, use a false payment, such as credits and food. In a very boring conclusion, nothing changed with the way American ran and produced its goods. Slaves became free people, but still worked like slaves. Not everything was exactly equal for both colored and white people. This sort of event is similar to today, where women are also still fighting for equality against men. Just goes to show you that history is destined to repeat itself (couple blogs ago question).
-Also, if slave owners had just given some proper necessities to the slaves, and given them proper working jobs, then maybe Civil War would not have had to start. Conditions were horrible back then, and the working hours were back-breaking. Better working hours and conditions would have been the difference between a peaceful life on a farm of hard working laborers, and a full scale war between the North and South because of petty differences. Support of the South had always been from the usage of slavery, but shouldn’t they have known this was coming? Couldn’t one slave owner have thought "eventually, these slaves will riot from bad working conditions and wages"? Of course, as history shows, no such event happened.
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Questions:
-Which side supported the Civil War the most, the North or the South? Why? Why not?
-If the 13th Amendment was made, why then did the slaves return to work at the manor farms instead of finding freedom, peace, and prosperity somewhere else?
-What was the main reason Lincoln signed the bill to pass the 13th Amendment? If there are more then one, list them. Why were these reasons important? How did these reasons influence the US at that time? What was the overall opinion of the United States of the decision to forbid slavery in the US?
-Did Lincolns appointed vice president, Jackson, have the same feeling on slavery as Lincoln did?
-Where did the large portion of newly found "free people" travel to after they were set free? Were they forced to stay in the area because of lack of funds and direction?
-Why does Howard Zinn address the idealism of post slavery as "whites, as well as blacks were in some sense becoming slaves"?
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Quotes:
"I remember my pa say that when somebody came and hollered "You Negros are free at last" say he just dropped hoe and said in a queer voice, "Thank God for that."
- Anni Mae Weathers
This quote is a sort of an emotional one. I can only wonder if this is how she felt a couple of days later, as her family struggles to search for food and jobs. Would she have still wanted slavery to end if it meant her family to suffer? This quote reminds me of the rational decisions people make because of a sudden exhilaration of joy that overcomes them. Examples of this are things like a mother/father discovering they have become a parent. Of course, joy will overcome them immediate, but in time, they might have just dug their own grave. Finances for that child will certainly build up, and in time, depression could overwhelm the parent, ultimately leading to a struggling life for them. Things seem bright at first, but then become darkened. Just as the proverb depicts, "look before you leap", which means: don’t make decisions without looking at all the options, and the outcomes of those options.
"If you or any other speculator on my body and rights, wish to know how I regard my rights, they need but come here, and lay their hands on my to enslave me..."
- J.W.Loguen
This quote defines what I call a freedom fighter. This individual distinguished clearly that she has rights by the protection of the United States, and no one was going to take that away from her. Reminds me of plenty of people, fictional and non-fictional, who are fighting for what they believe in. For example, Superman believes in good, so he fights crime. Mayor Bloomberg believes in the increasing improvements of New York’s transportation system, so he aids the funding of the MTA system. Ms. Francis believes in the inspirational growth of knowledge in the noggins of CSI high school students, so she teaches US History. Fighting for what an individual believes in is exactly what makes America a place of variety, or better yet, that’s what makes the world a unique one. Howard Zinn's opinion about this would clash with mine because Zinn's idealism of this quote would most likely boil down to his believe of just being independent. Of course, independence has plenty to do with my reasoning of belief as well, but not as much as many think at first. Independence has to do with the usage of "own resources", and making it all by yourself, but belief in an idea has to do with the actions an individual uses, verbally and physically, in order to achieve the goal they desire. This quote sort of reminds me of the proverb "faith will move mountains", because if an individual such as J.W.Loguen, Martin Luther King Jr, Gandhi, the Dalai Lama, Malcolm X, and George Orwell have enough spirit and hope and faith in their belief, then they will be able to do extraordinary things, such of which can only be achieved if you "have faith".
"Rise, Brother! Come let us posses this land...Be discontented. Be dissatisfied...Be as restless as the tempestuous billows on the boundless sea. Let your discontent break mountain-high against the wall of prejudice, ad swamp it to the very foundation..."
-John Hope
This quote seems to be very elastic, because this quote can be used during the American Revolution War, as well as the War of 1812, in addition to the Civil War of course. Not everything in thee quotes match up perfectly, but they do have a sort of ring to it which suggests that it has something to do with the overturn of the enemy at hand. During the Revolutionary War, this quote shines when said "Rise Brothers!" and “Let your discontent break mountain-high against the walls of prejudice and swamp it to the very foundation”. The first part could be used to determine the small army the US had during the 1770's, and the second part might be of attempting to persuade the colonists to fight back to oppression of Great Britain (the use of prejudice could be used as a metaphor as to show how the British disliked the colonists). For the War of 1812, the phrases “Rise Brothers. Come let us posses this land". This could be used as a way of saying that the American colonists do not want their land to be surrounded by British forts and troops anymore, and are demanding a rebellion against them. This springy quote reminds me of the proverb "History repeats itself", because as history will show, such an event is similar to events that happened hundreds, or even thousands of years ago. Even today, individuals fight for what they believe in, and when they have their mind set to a task, they run with it.
"There was one of two things I had a right to, liberty or death; if I could not have one, I would have the other; for no man should take me alive....”
-Harriet Tubman
This quote is also a reminder to the powerful will-power of the American sprit when it comes down to democracy, and Rights. This is somewhat of the sort of code American use when dealing with situations such as slavery. Just as the famous quote 'Give me Liberty, or give me Death", this quote is a one way street with only two ways to choose from: forward or backward, or in this case, Liberty or death. Howard Zinn describes the use of American independence with thorough questioning, and a satisfying amount of analysis, but leaves out some of the detailing focus of freedom as was defined back then. This quote reminds me of (yes, again) a proverb, "You cant make an omelet without breaking some eggs", because if people are prepared to fight for liberty against tyrants who feel indifferently, then sacrifices need to be made, and then only two options will stand.
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Enslaved Narrative Reason:
So many enslaved individuals decided to write narratives of their experiences with slavery because of a variety of reasons. One of which is because of faith. Since media spread news around the nation like wildfire, many slaves decided to document their experiences during those harsh times. The stories told on Manor Farms might arouse some attention, which might lead to rioting. If stories of the horrors and the hardship of slaves made it to the newspapers, then others would read them. If those stories caught enough attention, then eventually a mass attention would spotlight the farms as criminals, ultimately leading to the freedom of slaves. Another reason for documenting their slavery was because out of pure boredom. Slaves had nothing much to do during spare time, so they began to write stories of themselves. Perhaps they felt lonely, and had to need to keep a diary of some sort? Whatever the reason, it is clear it was for attention, a hand to reach out and grab them from their world of slavery and torture.
The purpose and power of examining primary sources like these while studying the institution of slavery in the American south is to stimulate the mind and let students comprehend the importance and articulate stature of such a passage in American history. Without this learning chapter in US history, I would have been clueless on the true irony that had set foot in America: a Democracy with natural rights, the right to voting, to own property, and ownership of slaves? If I had not learned about this chapter of American history, then I defiantly would still be confused on why slaves did nothing for so long about their conditions. This chapter has taught me all about the reasons, roots, and expulsions of slavery, and how certain people certainly changed that (wink wink, Tubman). Also, the important events that took place thought this period of time, such as the Underground Railroad. Thousands of slaves were saved by this courageous system, and heroic work by supporters. In addition, I never would have learned about the significance of he Civil War, and how its timing affected the whole economy and production of the South. As a result, the Civil War ended, Lincoln was assassinated, slavery was abolished, and a new era of capitalism started to rise, or should I say, "A new capitalism and a new enslavement of labor".
Brief Summary
In Howard Zinn’s A People’s History of the United States, Chapter 9 directs an entire outlook on slavery and life of limited freedom during America in the 19th century. The debate between the North and the South as to whether or not slavery should be permitted in the United States became an immense subject. Zinn focuses a great deal on how slaves in the South handled their situations and how many fought to gain what they believed was rightfully theirs. Cotton became a significant cash crop in the South and demands for the good meant more slaves needed to work in the fields. Zinn also includes the accounts of several slaves and how their experiences with slavery. Slavery produced much hardship for slaves. Relationships between families were often torn apart, abuses erupted, and even attempts for revolt originated. Howard Zinn emphasizes on John Little’s description of slavery stating “They say slaves are happy…..we did it to keep down trouble and to keep our hearts from being completely broken”. Little indicates how although slaves appeared to be in high spirits, they were actually hiding the pain and grief that lurked their hearts. In Frederick Douglass’s account in 1857 he states “ The whole history of the progress of human liberty shows all concessions yet made to her august claims have been born in struggle…..those who progress to favor freedom are men who want crops without plowing up ground. This fervent statement by Douglass signifies how throughout the course of history, pain and a great deal of effort have been the results in the request for freedom. Douglass explains how the slave owners want the outcome of the labor, but don’t want to work the fields themselves, thus they rely on slaves. Chapter 9’s Slavery Without Submission, Emancipation Without Freedom takes a considerable amount of insight on the not only slaves and abolitionists, but also on blacks voting, enlightenment of literature, and of course Lincoln’s Inaugural Address. As racism progressed through both the North and South blacks were not allowed to vote unless the owned $250 in land. Although times were difficult for many of the slaves, some expressed their pain and heartache through poetry, journals, and hymns that would lift their hopes and the lives of others. According to Howard Zinn Abraham Lincoln was the one who freed the slaves (though there has been some debate as to whether or not he was). In Lincoln’s Inaugural Address he implies to the South that the actions involving slavery are completely unconstitutional and in his famous line Lincoln stated “Shall it be or sword?” Howard Zinn’s interpretation of the events that occurred in the United States during the 1800’s illustrates that the events and actions involving slavery had an intense affect on America, and would result in war within the country’s borders.
Two Questions:
1) If slavery never existed in the United States would Civil War still have broken out because the North and South had competition over industries? (The North was industrial and the South was agrarian.)
2) Why did many whites in the South depend so heavily on slaves and not work for themselves? If the settlers from England built their own homes and communities than why couldn’t white Americans of the 1800’s pick their own cotton?
England abolished slavery so why couldn’t the South support its mother country by doing the same?
Josiah Henson is one example on how slavery strongly took a roll on the society of America. Being born into slavery and sold like property, Henson valued his life so far as to buy himself freedom. Saving up $350 Henson believed he could be freed from his slave life, however; his owner raised the price of his freedom to $1,000. Furious at the way his owner cheated him; Josiah took his family and ran away to Canada in order to help other slaves develop their own sense of individualism.
Harriet Tubman was similar to Josiah Henson because she to was a runaway slave who sought independence apart from her life as a slave. Also born in Maryland, Tubman worked to free other slaves by her development of the Underground Railroad. The Underground Railroad was a passage that led runaway slaves to areas of the North such as Canada. Harriet Tubman made many trips back and forth in order to make sure others received a chance at the free life. Working as a nurse, and attempting to put an arguing for women’s suffrage, Harriet Tubman became a powerful leader for many slaves and a heroine to the nation’s history.
Three quotes that stood out were “The violence mounted through the late 1860’s and early 1870’s as the Ku Klux Klan organized”, “Black women helped rebuild the postwar South”, and “He noted that the Thirteenth Amendment, which banned slavery, applied to individual plantation owners”. The quotes portray how blacks became terrorized by organizations worked hard for respect, and viewed the 13th Amendment as a way of escape from slavery. Slaves decided to write accounts because they wanted the truth to be shown about the realities of slavery. Writing narratives of literature allowed slaves to gain some happiness in their lives. I agree with Khadijat blacks did write to keep memories and hope alive for the good of themselves.
Racquel Wood
1)Slavery Without Submissions, Emancipation Without Freedom by Howard Zinn details the slaves rebellion after the Civil War. Owning a slave was extremely crucial after the abandonment, which was when owners decided cruelty was not the answer and gave slaves holidays off and a place to meet. However, this appeared to not be the answer either. After lacking food and shelter, the salves took it at their greatest advantage to abuse what they were given, until they rebelled. The salves greatest hopes of a rebellion were to hopefully get more freedom. They succeeded very little. The reason for the rise in slavery was because of the success of the southern states national agriculture trade marks. The need of slaves became a necessity because the production of goods and crops had to increase and the only people that would do these jobs were salves. Although the Civil War should have ended slavery, it was not because people in the south and north still disagreeing with the freedom of slaves. Slaves should have fully been free after the Civil War but unfortunately this was not the case.
There were many attempts of rebellion from the slaves, this not being the first. Some rebellions lead to slaves being hung and/or persecuted . The Emancipation Proclamation of 1863 was made to try to benefit the slaves while at the same time limiting many things. This proclamation was only for states that had seceded from the union, attempting to leave slavery untouched to border states that were loyal. Slaves worked tremendously hard and rightfully deserved every once of freedom that was theirs. Being that the violence continues, how could it be said that blacks/slaves were truly free? Another question that boggles my mind is why were slaves looked so lowly upon when they fought for themselves, shouldn’t that gain enough respect?
3) “There was one of two things I had a right to, liberty death; if I could not have one, I would have the other; for no man should take me alive. . .”
This compelling quote was stated by Harritet Tubman in Howard Zinns, A People’s History of the United States. Harritey Tubman was born into slave and made her own way to freedom. What she meant in this quote was that she wouldn’t let anyone take everything away from her. If it meant death than so be it which therefore shows the reasoning for twos things she had an equal right to. Something so beyond a persons own control. Harriet Tubman would never let anyone take advantage of her as she states ‘ no man should take me alive’.
“devoted, hard working responsible slaves who identified their fortunes with the fortunes of their masters”
This quote demonstrates that slaves worked hard to be given the freedom they were told they could have. After days and days of long hard work, slaves deserve to be treated with a great deal of respect for doing another mans dirty work while living in harsh conditions. How could this be fair? The lifestyle of these slaves became horrid. No slave was treated with respect of given any type of freedom. Conditions should have improved for the slaved sa long had say
4) Slaves fighting in the war was only for the simple fact that whites needed more soldiers and they used slaves in the front line. Although north and south were opposing sides, slaves fought for both sides. The purpose of these slave narratives was so that readers could indirectly experience the life of a slave during these harsh cruel times. However, many people years ago did not take this situation to heart as many people do today. People did not realize the cruelty going on around them but only the fictitious smiles that held back tears of many of hundreds of slaves.
I agree with Katie and Brianne it brings recognition to see howw slaves were actually treated. The essence of a slavery is truly shown rather then being vague. These experiences show slavery for what it really was from a witness’s point of view.
(woops forgot to copy + paste that part)
-Rosa Carcci
Chapter 9 of Howard Zinn's People's History of the United States, "Slavery Without Submission, Emancipation Without Freedom" describes, in detail, the terrible times for black people not long before and after the Civil War. Throughout the 1850s and 60s slaves and abolitionists did all they could to end slavery through conspiracies and rebellion. There were many who tried and failed to start a nationwide rebellion and were then executed for doing so. Historians have been writing about slavery through the use of statistics and events during the time, but those ways of writing for historians hasn't truly captured the experiences and feelings of these poor souls. Howard Zinn writes about their fights for freedom and their reasons for doing so through direct quotes. Rebellion might have been a good idea to many, but there were others, such as James Hammond, who believed that rebellion was not the answer to their problems.
James Hammond once said:
"But if your course was wholly different-If you distilled nectar from your lips and discoursed sweetest music... do you imagine you could prevail on us to give up a thousand millions of dollars in the value of our slaves, and a thousand millions of dollars more in the depreciation of our lands...?" (Zinn, 174)
This quote means that violent rebellion will only hurt their own cause. The black man must find a way to be free in a way that's civil, showing that they are citizens, too, not property.
In 1829, David Walker, son of a slave living in Boston, decided to write an appeal, which would be known as Walker's Appeal, to the South promising the slaves' freedom, infuriating southern slave-owners. Walker would be killed in 1830, due to a $1000 reward for his death. Afterward, people tried to follow Walker's idea of sharing ideas concerning slavery by taking part in the writings of abolitionist newspapers, such as the Liberator. Then came the year of Abraham Lincoln's election. Whether Lincoln's intentions were to protect slavery or destroy it weren't clear. Therefore, Lincoln most likely didn't receive much support from southerners. However, in the end, Lincoln did win the election, and it is possible that his win in the election is explained by this speech made by Wendell Phillips at the Trenton Temple in Boston.
"If the telegraph speaks truth, for the first time in our history the slave has chosen a President of the United States... Not an abolitionist, hardly an antislavery man, Mr. Lincoln consents to to represent an antislavery idea. A pawn on the political chessboard, his value in his position; with fair effort, we may soon change him for knight, bishop or queen, and sweep the board. (Applause)" (Zinn, 190)
This quote means that Lincoln has never presented himself to truly represent either position on slavery. He can be easily swayed to join the side of proslavery. As Howard Zinn continues to write about Lincoln, it seems to be true that he's a mere pawn because he's not indefinitely on either side. Then again, he probably didn't want either side of the country to be upset with him. By remaining neutral, he avoids conflict with both sides concerning slavery. As his time in office passed, Lincoln was eventually influenced to join the side of the abolitionists. After the abolitionist victory over the confederates in the Civil War and the issuing of the Emancipation Proclomation, black people took part in American society much more by voting during presidential elections, becoming teachers, and having schools, libraries, and homes built. However, white southerners sought for the return of white supremacy. As a result, white southerners started riots, killing black men and women and burning building. They even took judicial matters into their own hands, such as the Caldwell case, when a negro blacksmith killed a white man in self-defense and went free after a trial. A white gang shot Caldwell to death on Christmas, 1875. The number of black people in Congress also decreased. Henry MacNeal Turner, a black man once elected to the legislature of Georgia decided to speak to the Georgia House of Representatives to defend his right to his job.
"Mr. Speaker.... I wish the members of this House to understand the position that I take. I hold that I am a member of this body. Therefore, sir, I shall neither fawn or cringe before any party, nor stoop to beg them for my rights. .. . I am here to demand my rights, and to hurl thunderbolts at the men who would dare to cross the threshold of my manhood. . . .
The scene presented in this House, today, is one unparalleled in the history of the world.... Never, in the history of the world, has a man been arraigned before a body clothed with legislative, judicial or executive functions, charged with the offense of being of a darker hue than his fellow-men. ... it has remained for the State of Georgia, in the very heart of the nineteenth century, to call a man before the bar, and there charge him with an act for which he is no more responsible than for the head which he carries upon his shoulders. The Anglo-Saxon race, sir, is a most surprising one.... I was not aware that there was in the character of that race so much cowardice, or so much pusillanimity. ... I tell you, sir, that this is a question which will not the today. This event shall be remembered by posterity for ages yet to come, and while the sun shall continue to climb the hills of heaven....
. . . we are told mat if black men want to speak, they must speak through white trumpets; if black men want their sentiments expressed, they must be adulterated and sent through white messengers, who will quibble, and equivocate, and evade, as rapidly as me pendulum of a clock.. . .
The great question, sir is this: Am I a man? If I am such, I claim the rights of a man.. . .
Why, sir, though we are not white, we have accomplished much. We have pioneered civilization here; we have built up your country; we have worked in your fields, and garnered your harvests, for two hundred and fifty years! And what do we ask of you in return? Do we ask you for compensation for the sweat our fathers bore for you-for the rears you have caused, and the hearts you have broken, and the lives you have curtailed, and the blood you have spilled? Do we ask retaliation? We ask it not. We are willing to let the dead past bury its dead; but we ask you now for our RIGHTS...." (Zinn, 200-201)
This quote means that all black men are citizens and should have the rights of one. However, blacks still require the power of the whites in order to make a life. Tis another form of slavery with the use of discrimination. The enthusiasm that came from Northerners to protect the blacks no longer existed, allowing Southern desires to be fulfilled. So, in the end, black Americans were almost in the same position as were in the beginning of the chapter.
African Americans have been writing about their experiences as slaves to remind the people of how inhumane slavery can be; reminding us that slavery cannot be allowed to exist ever again. These people wrote about their experience also to reveal the truths about slavery and to avoid belief in false information from historians (as written in the first part of my blog before the first quote).
Rocky: I do agree about slavery's purpose in the South, to produce goods, and its necessity in the South. However, you never mentioned how Northerners gave up on the fight for African American's rights.
Michael Appelgate
H block
PS: I'm sorry that this is so late.
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