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Introduction and Anthony Johnson (part 1)
In this time period, people were coming from Europe to the New World. TheEnglishmen needed help on their farms and plantations. They captured African Americans and brought them home to use as slaves or indentured servants. They went from being treated fairly to being treated like property. As time passed the englishmen started to pass laws for the Africans. They would rebel and the Englishmen would pass more and more laws. -
Introduction and Anthony Johnson (part 2)
Anthony Johnson was one of those people he was captured in Africa and came to the New World as an indentured servant. During his life he was treated fairly and poorly. -
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Anthony Johnson's Progress
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Antony Johnson's Lifetime
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Anthony Johnson Acquires Land
Anthony Johnson acquires land. This is important because, Africans were not treated as equal at this time, but still had a chance in early VA. When he received land it was a step up for him. Also with that land he could farm and collect crops to earn money. Owning this land also showed that he had some power in his life. That he was a free African American. -
Anthony Johnson Wins a Court Case
Anthony Johnson Showed progress in his life once again by, winning a court case against an Englishman. This court case was over Anthony Johnson's slave, John Casar. John Casar wanted to be set free from servitude, but Anthony Johnson did not set him free. He went to court twice. The first time that he went to court, he lost his case and John Casar was set free. The second time that Anthony Johnson went to court, he won his case and John Casar was returned to him. Sources: Court Cases B and C -
Casual Killing of Slaves
This act was the first law that started to end progress for the Africans. It stated, that if a slave was killed by his owner under any circumstanses, the owner would not be punished. This meant that if a slave was punished so badly and he died, that the owner would not be in trouble. This law was very important because, it showed how dumb some of the Englishman were. They killed there own property, the slaves, just to show power. -
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Diminishing Progress
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An Act of Diminishing Progress
In October of 1670, an act was passed stating that an Indian or African Person may not buy a Christian servant. The Englishmen passed this law because they knew that it would be very hard to find a non-Christian servant. Without help, It would be hard to work on a plantation or a farm. This would stop a lot of the progress that freed Africans had made. -
Hogstealing
In April of 1699, yet another law was passed that could potentially kill the slaves. The act stated that if anybody stole another man's hog, that he would receive 39 lashes to the back and his ears would be cut off. This act was one of the many harsh laws that the Englishmen passed. They passed bad laws like this to show that they were in charge and that Africans meant nothing to them. -
Possibilities of Freedom Gone
At this point in history, slaves were being treated poorly. Later on in the years the slaves would not be able to be free and if they ever had a chance they would have to fight for everything they had. At first the Englishmen had a good reason to make these laws, but now do you think that they did?
