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Introduction
Before all the discrimination and inhumane treatment of slaves, there was some degree of equality and fairness in the colonies of Virginia. This timeline includes following part of Anthony Johnson’s life and diminishing progress for Africans in colonial Virginia. -
Period: to
Dimishing Progess for African Americans in Colonial Virginia
Follow Anthony Johnson in early colonial Vriginia and the discrimminating and mistreating laws for slaves. -
Anthony Johnson (a freed former slave) now owns 250 acres of land, cattle, and 2 servants. Sources.
(Conaway Clarke, then the clark of the Northampton County Court)
Susie M. Ames, ed., County Court Records od=f accomack-Northampton, Virginia, 1640-1645.
Charlottesville, VA. 1973. p 457 -
Anthony Johnson (a freed former slave) now owns 250 acres of land, cattle, and 2 servants.
In 1645 Anthony Johnson gains land from Captain Taylor. By now he owns land, cattle, and servants.This is (postitive) progress towards full and equal rights of Africans because Anthony, owning land and servants, himself, is free and econimically successful and educated. There is still plenty of opportunities for a slave to become free and start a decent life for himself. The former slaves can still own their own slaves and servants. -
Anthony wins a court case against a white man.
Anthony's servant, John Casar, came to Captain Samuel Goldsymth to complain that he had served his eight years of bondage, but Anhtony Johnson refused to set him free. Anthony said he had the servant for life. His family, however, persuaded him to free the servant, John Casar.
However, later in 1654 Anthony goes to court again to get John Casar back. He did win and got his servant back. This is (postive) progress because an African man going to court against a white man, and winning -
Anthony wins court case over a white man Sources
Sources Walczyk, Frank V. transcriber, Northampton County Virginia, Orders, Deeds, & Wills, 1651-1654 Book
IV. Peter's Row, New York. 1971. Pg.193. -
Anthony wins court case over a white man (2)
indicates that the people have not yet become so discriminatory that they would lean towards the white man, no matter the case. If an African is right and has proof to back himself up, then, at that time, he would probably win a court case, unlike a few years later. -
Act XII Negro womens childrens
Before December 1662 a child’s class was defined by the father’s class. According to this act, a child’s status/class is no longer defined by the father but by the mother. This act was passed to ensure that white men would, for sure, have a bountiful supply of slaves. Before, if there was a half African/ half white child, if the father was white then, the child would most likely not be a slave/servant. Now, the child’s condition would be according to his mother’s. It was also passed to -
Act XII Negro womens children (2)
discouraged relationships between Africans and whites. This is diminishing progress because this act is advantageous to white men, because they can get more slaves for free. Africans were in a never ending loop of slavery, with no way to get free. -
Act XII Nero womens children Sources
Hening, ed., The Statutes at Large, vol. 2, p. 170. -
Act I Casual killing of slaves (2)
it is not the “estate” owner’s responsibility. A sensible, respectable slave owner would never injure or kill his slave on purpose, so a death or injury of a slave would not be considered a felony on the owner’s part. This would be considered diminishing progress for Africans because the slave owners/overseers no longer have to be careful handing out punishments. This probably results in harsher punishments, stricter rules, and harder work. -
Act I Casual killing of slaves
“. . .Be it enacted and declared by this grand assembly, if any slave resist his master. . . and by the extremity of the correction should chance to die, that his death shall not be accompted ffelony, but the master. . .be aquit from molestation, since it cannot be presumed that. . .malice. . . should induce any man to destroy his owne estate”- Hening, ed., The Statutes at Large, vol. 2, p.270
This act is basically stating that if a slave dies, in any way, while being punished or by accident, -
Act I Casual killing of slaves Sources
Hening, ed., the Statutes at Large, vol. 2, p. 270 -
Chap. XXII (2)Any ensalved person within this dominion is considered to be real estate. (cont.)
before the act was passed. Even worse, the act does not exempt the slave from being “liable to paiment of debts, and may be taken by execution. . .” The act also states that the slave shall be treated “. . . to be personal estate, in the same condition they should have been in, if this act has never been made.” -
Chap. XXII (3)Declaring who is real estate.
Another part of this act states that if the owner dies the slaves will be divided amongst the children, much like common cattle. It also states that if the “. . .widow , seised of any such slave or slaves. . . as of the dower of her husband. . . voluntarily permit to be sent out of this colony and dominion. . . without the lawful consent of him or her in reversion. . .widow shall forfeit all and every such slave…” Meaning if the widow frees any slave without permission, -
Chap. XXII (1) Any ensalved person within this dominion is considered to be real estate.
In this Act, true to its title, it defines all enslaved men, women, and children as real estate/ property. This is definitely diminishing progress because the free white people no longer see the enslaved as humans or worthy of treatment appropriate for humans. This act has taken away all basic and humane rights to any enslaved persons by stating that they are meant for nothing but to be sold or put to work. They are no longer entitled to opinion, not even the little bit of consideration they had -
Chap. XXII (4)Declaring who is real estate. & Sources
she/he will lose all other slaves. Sources: Hening, ed., The Statutes at Large, vol. 3, pp. 333-335 -
Conclusion
After following Anthony Johnson through the steps of diminishing progress for Africans, there are many topics to consider. History can repeat itself and people should feel the need to prevent such dehumanization to any specific race ever again. The way the Africans (not yet considered Americans) were treated should be met with sympathy, compassion and realization that it was an extremely impossible situation to live in. The United States is known as the “melting pot” because, as a whole, -
Conclusion (2)
the people in the U.S. have come together and blended cultures. The challenge is; to be open, accepting, and considerate about the different cultures and people around you in everyday life.
