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The Beginning
Beginning in 1619 with 20 or more Africans being brought from Africa to Virginia for free forced labor. After a few decades, Massachusetts decided to legalize slavery which pleased all but those enslaved. Racism was often everywhere especially towards those with other skin colors. -
Blacks With Blacks
Virginia courts concluded that African Americans could "own" other African Americans. This was because many were buying their family and friends to help them avoid abusive caucasian owners. -
Bacon's Rebellion
This rebellion took place in Jamestown of Virginia. Groups of indentured servants and slaves, led by Nathaniel Bacon, were angered by the Virginian governer Berkeley. Nathaniel wanted to have the freedom to shoot whomever of the Deog tribe that disturbed him or the others. Nathaniel was threatened by Governer Berkeley to shoot him, but Nathaniel aimed his weapons against the burgesses who quickly allowed him to do as he peleases with the invading Natives. -
Finally, A Word
The Germantown Quaker Petition was a petition of protest against slavery. This petition states multiple times as the Bible does "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you". This religious group understood that to eliminate slavery from the country as a whole would be difficult if impossible for their time. It is unknown if the bill was introduced further than local government as they never gave affirmation. -
Mixed Up
In 1691, states began passing laws and acts which banned the marriage of those white and black. This broke apart many families and proceeded to break the dreams of many to come. It would simply be easier to list the states that did not take any action against interracial marriages. These states are the following: Alaska, Hawaii, Wisconsin, Minnesota, New York, Vermont, New Hampshire, Connecticut, and New Jersey. Other states had their laws and acts repealed by 1887 or 1967 (although some after). -
Hard Labor
It was around 1694 when rice plantations were introduced to the southern states. Slave labor demand doubled quickly. Families became even more split up, causing extreme turmoil amongst the forced laborers. -
Stono Rebellion
Early on a Sunday morning in South Carolina a group of escaped slaves, led by an Angolian man named Jemmy, broke into a gun shop. After arming themselves they demanded freedom from their prior abuse. They marched, kill overseers, and took other slaves with their group. When reaching the Edisto River a group of white men overtook the group and returned those still alive to auctions. Many were sold to the West Indies. -
Phillis Wheatley
Born in 1753, Phillis was taken from West Africa when she was 7 years old and taken back to a southern state. Her owners took a liking to her, because of her innocence and sweet demeanor. These traits probably saved her from a lot of abuse, but she still had to work like the others. Eventually her owners taught her to read and write, because of this she began to write poems. After years of writing she was finally able to find someone to publish her poems. She released twelve different books. -
Vermonts Ban
Vermont, in its constitution, places a ban on slavery and allows the males to vote. -
3/5 Compromise
Proposed by James Wilson, the 3/5 Compromise was brought up during the Constitutional Convention of 1787. The compromise comes to the conclusion that slaves were worth 3/5 of a person. The reason this compromise was brought up is because states argued they were not being represented equally. This is due to the mass amounts of slaves in the, mostly, southern states. -
The Underground Railroad
Beginning the the late 1700's and early 1800's the Underground Railroad was a form of transportation and hiding spots that escaped slaves can use to leave or hide from their plantations. Over 100,000 slaves were freed using the Underground Railroad, many thanks to Harriet Tubman. Harriet Tubman was a female slave who had help free over 500 slaves from plantations and abuse. She claims to have never lost a person along the way. -
Canadian Freedom
Canada declares that any slave who manages to gain access to the country is immediately set free and shall not be returned to prior ownership. Many slaves were already living there at the time, but access for others became easier. -
Nat Turners Rebellion
Nat Turner led a rebellion in Virginia. He landed in the hands of John Travis when he was 30. Gathering a small group, Turner and the men slaughtered the Travis family very early in the morning as they slept. Turner and his men, the numbers of which continued to grow, set towards Southampton County killing all white people they encountered. His rebellion was shut down by militia who heard word of his attacks. Nat Turner was hung and skinned on November 11. His men were executed later on. -
Henry Brown
Henry Brown transported himself away from his plantation by shipping himself in a wooden crate. He was shipped to Philadelphia where he was a free man. -
The Book of Books
"Uncle Tom's Cabin" is a book published in 1852. This book tells the tale of Uncle Tom. Uncle Tom is a man who saved a small girl named Eva whilst upon a ship. Upon her death Eva asked that her father free as many slaves as possible from their torture. Her father was later killed, leaving the responsibility to Tom. Uncle Toms new owner whips him to death after re refused to give the whereabouts of the freed slaves. Over 300,000 copies of this book were sold that year. -
Dred Scott vs Sanford (2)
After taking away their freedom, thanks to Irene's appeal, Dred Scott filed a federal lawsuit with the United States Circuit Court for the District of Missouri. The federal court looked over the case and ruled against Mr. Scott and his family. Dred Scott tried one more time to win his case, so he brought it to the Supreme Court. The case was gaining publicity rapidly and the courts did not want to be bothered by the news. Dred Scott and his family lost their case once more. That was the end. -
Dred Scott vs Sanford (1)
Beginning in 1846, Dred Scott and his wife Harriet filed a lawsuit for freedom in St. Louis against Irene Emerson, their prior owner. This lawsuit was based upon two statues, the first being anyone of color can sue for wrongful enslavement, and the other being once entering a free state that persons is free. They received support from many, including a previous owner. Many times the case was looked over and declined, or retried. They became free at a point, but the courts took that away quickly. -
The Last Ship
The last slave ship to bring back any Africans was named the "Clotilde". It landed in Mobile Bay, Alabama between August 1859 and July 1860. The date is yet to be specified. -
Emancipation Proclamation
The Emancipation Proclamation declared all slaves being held in the Confederate territories are now free. This does not mean it ended slavery, but it was a very large step towards the abolishment. The freedom for slaves that it promised was based upon the Union winning. If the Union did not win this proclamation would be useless and non-existent. -
The End
The Thirteenth Amendment was passed in 1865. This amendment states in Section One "Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude, except as a punishment for crime whereof the party shall have been duly convicted, shall exist within the United States, or any place subject to their jurisdiction." Section Two of the Thirteenth Amendment states "Congress shall have power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation". Clearly saying that slavery is no longer legal and judicial action will be taken.
