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Anthony Johnson Introduction
click here to learn more about the powhatan massacre Anthony Johnson came over to Colonial Virginia as a slave in the 1600's and experience and survived the Powhatan Massacre along with 4 other men. He became Christian on his way to America. As a slave, he married his wife, Mary, and fathered four children. After being freed he owned land and had slaves. Life had started out great for Anthony until the laws came. -
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Lifes of Anthony Johnson and sons
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Act 10 - Gun law
click here to learn more on the gun law of 1639With this first law it said that Africans cannot have guns or ammunition. If so you will be fined at pleasure of the Governor and Council. With the law we can assume that the Englishmen wanted Africans to rely on them by taking away the main supply of food. Africans unable to defend themselves,it gave the Englishmen more power. This went along with diminishing progress because now the Africans can't fend for themselves and don't have a way to get food either. -
Anthony Johnson Acquires Land
click here for more info on Anthony Johnson and Sons acquiring landAnthony Johnson acquires land and corn from Captain Taylor. This is important because without the land and being free, he would not have lived the way he did. Also because he could make something of himself and not just be a slave. This is important to diminishing progress because now that he had land, he could raise cattle and farm the land. Also because now he had something that could be taken away by the laws that are about to happen. -
Anthony Johnson Petitions For His Slave Continued
This had to do with diminishing progress because the laws were coming and Anthony Johnson, his family, and other Africans will be forced to rely on the Englishmen. Life is about to become a lot more difficult for Anthony Johnson and other Africans. -
Anthony Johnson Petitons For His Slave
click here for more info on Anthony Johnson owning a slaveAnthony Johnson once being a slave is now petitioning to get his slave back. Anthony Johnson said that he had his slave for life, while Mr. Robert and George Parker said that had an indenture on the other side of the bay. Anthony wanted a slave to help with farming his land. It was not unusual at this time to have an African own a slave because the African could be freed and work land why not own a slave to help with this land. -
Act lll - Baptism Slaves Doesn't Free Them From Slavery
click here for the slave law on baptismclick here to learn more on baptism of slaves in the 1600'sAntony Johnson was already freed by the time this law came into play. This law stated that even if you're a slave and you got baptised you would still be a slave for life. I think this played an important role in diminishing progress because now the slaves could never be free even if they were Christian. This didn't effect Anthony Johnson because he was already a freed slave. Even though it didn't effect him, it effected a lot of lives. -
Act l - Causal Killing of Slaves
click here for more info on the causal killing of slaves With the passage of this law slaves were becoming property in the Englishmens eyes. This law stated that if you were punishing your slave, and they happened to die, you could not be charged with murder. I think this was important in diminishing progress because now they could get away with "accidental" murder or at least make it look like an accident. Anthony Johnson was not has effected by this law as the other slaves were because he was already a freed African. This wasn't the worst to come. -
Conclusion Continue
If everyone does their part, we can make sure nothing like this happens again for as long as we live. If we don't then know this someone won't be as well off as you. It could possibly be you. What would you do? -
Conclusion
click here for information on on slavery in Colonial Virginia in 1705Even with all these laws, Anthony Johnson was died a freed slave. After all these laws were passed, there was a big line that divided the Africans and the Englishmen. Now that all that is behind us, it is up to us to keep away from dividing everyone into two groups, where one has more power over the other. It is up to everyone to keep the government in line and to make sure that the laws don't discriminate againist a certain type of person.
