Antebellum Slavery Antebellum refers to the time period

Antebellum Slavery • Antebellum – refers to the time period before the American Civil War • By 1830 • 2 million slaves in US (cotton gin increase in slave population) • Most slaves were not from Africa or the Caribbean but were born into slavery • Most spoke English • Most were Christian

Rural Slavery • Rural – countryside, away from cities • Demand for cotton growth of slavery in south • By 1850 – 2. 5 million slaves working on plantations • Men, women, and child slaves worked in fields from sunrise-sunset

Urban Slavery • Urban – in a city • Demand for cotton more Southern whites went into farming Created a shortage in white workers in the textile and lumber industries • Urban slaves • ~400, 000 in US • Worked in mills or on ships doing unskilled labor – slaveowners collected the wages • Skilled slaves could be blacksmiths or carpenters • Generally led better lives than plantation/rural slaves because they spent more time away from owners

Free Blacks in the North • Many joined anti-slavery societies • Not all agreed with Garrison or Walker • Worked in low-paying jobs, usually for a white person • Drove carriage • Carried baskets/bags • Brushed shoes • Cleaned the house

Call for Abolition • Abolition – the banning/outlawing of slavery • Abolitionist – a person who fought to end slavery • Emancipation – the freeing of slaves • Abolitionists were white and black, men and women. • Not all abolitionists agreed with the same plan to emancipation.

William Lloyd Garrison • Radical white abolitionist • Published the newspaper, The Liberator • Called for immediate emancipation and no payment to slaveholders • Very influenced by Christian values • 1833 – American Anti-Slavery Society • White and black abolitionists • 3 of 4 members were black abolitionists • Many hated Garrison • Some whites that were pro-abolition were also anti-Garrison because he attacked churches and the government for allowing slavery • Some abolitionists disliked Garrison because he supported David Walker

David Walker • Free black abolitionist • 1829 - Wrote Appeal to the Colored Citizens of the World • Encouraged blacks to fight for freedom rather than wait for slave holders to end slavery “The man who would not fight… ought to be kept with all of his children or family, in slavery, or in chains, to be butchered by his cruel enemies!” - David Walker

Frederick Douglass • Former slave, abolitionist • Taught to read and write by his owner’s wife • Ran away to New York by taking the identity of a free black sailor and the official papers • Skilled speaker Garrison invited him to speak at Anti- Slavery Society meetings • Later split with Garrison because he was too radical • Douglass believed freedom could be gained by political means instead of violence or rebelling • Established the anti-slavery newspaper called “The North Star” • Named after the star that guided runaway slaves to freedom in the north

Slavery and Abolition • 1. Use the internet to briefly describe what each reformer listed did • 2. When you are finished, turn it in the bin and work on finishing the Sectionalism Web Quest you started the day the sub was here (IF YOU NEED A COPY ITS ON THE FRONT TABLE)

Nat Turner’s Rebellion • Nat Turner • Born into slavery in Virginia • Preacher – believed he had been chosen by God to lead his people out of bondage (being held against your will as a slave) • 1831 – Nat Turner’s Rebellion • Turner led 80 followers to attack 4 plantations • Killed almost 60 whites in several weeks • Captured by state and federal troopers • Tried for murders and hanged (56 conspirators also executed)

Nat Turner’s Rebellion • Nat Turner’s Rebellion caused a debate over slavery in Virginia • Some called for emancipation to prevent future revolts • Some called for tighter restrictions on all blacks (free or slave) • Virginia governor called for a law to gradually abolish slavery in the state the law did not pass • 73 -58 • More representatives from the eastern slave-holding part of the state compare to those from the western non-slave-holding areas

Backlash from Revolts • White southerners feared more revolts pushed for tighter restrictions on blacks • Slave Codes or Black Codes were passed in southern states to restrict rights of free blacks. • Free blacks could not vote, own guns, buy alcohol, assemble in public, testify in court, own property, learn to read/write, or work independently as a carpenter or blacksmith.

Proslavery Defenses • Some proslavery Southerners used Christianity as a defense. • Cited the Bible – servants should obey their masters • Slavery benefited blacks – making them part of a prosperous and Christian civilization • Southern white ministers believed slavery and Christianity could coexist.

Proslavery Defenses • Myth of the “happy slave” • Lived happy and comfortable lives on a plantation • Food and shelter provided • No need for money • Sang in the fields

Gag Rule on Slavery • Debates over slavery led to a large number of anti-slavery petitions being sent to Congress in DC. • Congress (mostly the Southern representatives) passed a gag rule on slavery (1836 -1844) • Gag rule – a rule limiting or preventing debate on an issue in Congress • Citizens who submitted anti-slavery petitions were not allowed to be heard in Congress • The debate over slavery was at a gridlock – neither side willing to back down.