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Anthony Jonhson's Life
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Progress
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Introduction
Slaves originally came to America as indentured servants. If they caused trouble, then time was added to their sevitude. When one's time was up, then they were set free to make their way in the world. Blacks began to make progress towards a good life. One of these people was Anthony Johnson. This group of people carved out lives for themselves. Some, like Anthony, married and had children. Then their progress started to diminish. All because of the new, harsher laws. -
Sources for Introduction
Sources:
Document E by Betty Wood, Professor of History, Oxford University -
Anthony Johnson
Anthony Johnson: More Information
Click on the link above for information on Anthony Johnson. -
Anthony Johnson Acquires Land
Anthony Johnson acquires land. This shows progress because he is a former slave. The society is progressing enough to allow some blacks, such as Anthony, to aquire and own their own land. Now Anthony can own a house, start a good family, grow crops and raise livestock. Blacks in the same position as Anthony started to carve a life out for themselves. They were making progress!
Souces:
Court Case A- Anthony Johnson Aquires Land -
More Information on Anthony Acquiring Land
Anthony Johnson Acquires Land
Click on the link above for more information on this event! -
Anthony Johnson Wins a Court Case Continued
Click here for more information
In the link above, information about Anthony Johnson starts in the second paragraph. Most of everything else doesn'y matter. a slave shows that he has crops, and can make a good lif for himself. Sources:
Court Case B- Anthony pentions for his slave, John Casar, in 1654
Document A- "Mastering the New World -Antnio" -
Anthony Johnson Wins a Court Case
In 1654, Anthony Johnson won a court case to get his slave, John Casar, back. This showed progress because Anthony won against an englishman. At the time, Africans were the lower social class. So it is very strange that an African such as Anthony would win in a courtcase against an Englishman. It isn't very strange that he would have a slave even though he is a former one. This is because he is a farmer, and farmers need cheap labor to help harvest, plant, and tend to the crops. Anthony having -
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Diminishing Progress
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A Law About The Casual Kiling of Slaves Continued
adding time to the slaves servatude (like they used to), they would beat the slaves. This law is the first mention of slaves being proporty. Sources:
Act 1 -
A Law About the Casual Killing of Slaves
This act meant that slave owners could beat their slaves, and if the slave died it was not considered murder. This showed diminishing progress because slaves are being treated very,very poorly. This law marked a very clear part of the diminishing progress in Colonial America. This law was also made because it includes the statement that slave owners could beat their slaves as punishment. Recently a law had been made stating that slaves were to serve their entire life time. Now, instead of -
An act for the punishment of Hog stealing
This act stated the punishments for first and second offences for the stealing of hogs. Slaves would try to steal the hogs to make some money. The first offence resulted in 39 lashings on the slaves back. The second offence resulted in standing 2 hours in the pillary, and have his ears nailed, and after the 2 hours, his ears are cut off. This act showed diminishing progress because now the slaves were being tortured. The slaves wouldn't have to steal the hogs if the laws weren't so harsh. -
An act for the punishment of Hog Stealing Continued
Click here for more information
It's very sad that the country came to toturing people for stealing stuff when they caused them to have to steal. This law really showed diminishing progress because it was so harsh, and was just horrible to the slaves. Sources:
Act 6 -
An Act Declaring the Negro, Mulatto, and Indian slaves within this dominion,to be real estate.
Click Here For More Information This law officialy stated that slaves were real estate, or property. Most slave owners already considered them property, but now it was a law. Already in1669 when the law about the casual killing of slaves was ratified, we saw slaves being treated as property. Slaves were now, according to law, things. This law also showed how much slave owners wanted power! Sorces:
Act 22
Act 22 -
Conclusion
Eventually, slavery was abolished, and the pieces of the puzzle were reunited. Blacks were no longer slaves or property. If these metaphorical puzzle pieces ever break apart again, America won’t ever be the same. Or will it?
