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Introduction 2
He was one of the few survivors of the San Antonio Wreck. Antonio and the other survivors boarded the ship James and were taken to England. Once there, he changed his name to Anthony Johnson. He moved to the colonies and started a life. He watched as it was slowly taken away from him. -
Introduction
Life used to be a whole lot better for Africans in Colonial VA. They used to come over to the colonies as indentured servants. The Englishmen originally treated them just like any other person other than the fact that they were servants for 20 years and Englishmen were servants for 7. Then they started acting even more unfair to the African Americans. Anthony Johnson started his journey with Antonio as his only name. -
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Anthony Johnson
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Owning Land
Anthony the Negro acqired land from Mr. Taylor in Northampton County. This showed that progress was occurring and even Africans in colonial VA could own land. Anthony Johnson now owned land. Since he was now a landowner he wasn't dependant on the Englishmen, he could now provide for him and his family. -
Owning slaves/servents
Anthony Johnson owned slaves which showed that even Africans living in Colonial VA could own slave. Whenever a slave worked really good Anthony would petition him to become a servant. This showed that he was big enough a landowner to own slaves because he needed the extra help. -
Christian Children Working
Before, if a slave was a Christian then it couldn't be a slave for life. It had to be an indentured servant. Now the Christian slaves could work if they were at least the age of fourteen. This showed that the good things the Africans in Colonial VA were getting were going away. They had reached their peak and could only go down from there. This showed the greed of the Englishmen and how they wanted every slave in bondage. -
Punishment of hog stealing
Any Africans in Colonial VA were to be punished if they stole a hog. If a white man were to steal it they would get a mild punishment, but if an African in Colonial VA were to steal a hog they would get thirty-nine lashes on the bare back. This was starting to show the increasing unfairness between the white men and the Africans. This showed the dehumanizing of the Africans as they were now tortured for small things. -
Slaves are Property for Life
Slaves had become property for life. This is the lowest thing the Africans in Colonial VA could become. They aren't even a person anymore they're just an object. This is showing that the Africans in Colonial VA don't even have any rights anymore. If they are killed in a beating it won't be murderers they'll just be someone who broke an object. -
Conclusion
The slaves didn't think that they would get out of slavery. Hundreds of slaves died thinking that there people would always live this way. Now that you've seen the horrible things that happened to the Africans will you make the world a better place? You have the power to stop laws that dehumanize people. Will you take the chance? Will you make a difference?
