19th Century Slavery

I. Intro. Stuff A. Am. Has a long history of Slavery, 1660s-1865. B. New World Slaver is DIFFERENT from Old World

Slavery.-It’s LIFE LONG-It’s PERPETUAL

C. The LEGACY OF SLAVERY is with us today. It is how Americans “Know” how to treat “other” groups. All American racism, sexism, classissm, homphopbia, etc. can be found in our History of Slavery.

II. The Numbers

A. 1800: 250,000 slaves in U. S.--Founders ignore it in Constitution

(except for 3/5 law).--Think the “Peculiar Institution” will die

on its own.--Market for Tobacco in the dumper.--Cotton hard to grow

B: 1794 Eli Whitney & Catherine Littlefield Green invent/perfect a COTTON GIN.

Of Course, She gets No Credit. History!

C: Slave Numbers EXPLODE, and the Value of them, Hence the $ Owners have Invested in Slaves Grows

1800: 250,000 Slaves1860: 4,000,000 Slaves16 Times Increase

More Slaves = More commitment to slavery, both economic and IDEOLOGICAL.

Slave Owners and Pro-slavery Elements develop new/stronger ideas about why Slavery is Good.

Racism/Anti-People of Africa Descent Ideas Grow and Harden

III. Slave Conditions

1. Hard work/Long Hours– 90% of all slaves, men, women, children work in fields, sun up to sun down.

2. Poor food, poor clothing, poor housing.

3. Violence: Slavery was Enforced by Violence & the Threat of Violence

IV. 19th Century Manhood Ideologies

A. The CHRISTIAN GENTLEMAN: for white, middle-class guys.

1. A CG is Hard Working 2. A CG is Intelligent/Well

Educated/Smart 3. A CG is Self Controlled: -Emotionally Self Controlled-Physically Self Controlled-Sexually Self Controlled

Mini-Lecture: 19th C. Americans and Male Masturbation

1. Somatic System: Body a closed system, with Finite amount of energy.

2. Any Energy “Spent” one place is energy not available elsewhere.

3. Gentlemen need to be smart,ready for business; not drained by

Masturbation 4. Sylvester Graham: _______ 5. William Kellog:_______

IV. Continued (or back to our Regularly Scheduled Lecture)

B: SAMBO: Racist Ideology about Slave Men. Sambo was the exact opposite of the CG. He was the Anti-Christian Gentleman. (or so people thought)

1. Sambo was _______ 2. Sambo was ______ 3. Sambo was ________ All of these are JUSTIFICATIONS FOR

SLAVERY. RACISM JUSTFIED SLAVERY.

V. Frederick Douglass and his Narrative

A. FD “Selling” a Aboliton/Anti-slavery message to readers.

1. He shows the reader what he IS and what he is NOT.

He is not: 1. 2. 3.

The FD BIG FINISH!

SOOOO . . . He’s NOT SAMBO! B. What is he Then?

1. He’s a Christian Gentleman. 2. He’s a BLACK C. G. 3. IF he’s a Black CG, then . . . What? -Might there be others? -Is “Sambo” a real justifcation for slavery? -What should people do about that? -What People can he reach? Who reads?

Who votes? Who can be persuaded?

VI. Slave Resistance

A. Active Resistance: Run Away!

Slave Rebellion

Fight the Master

VI. Slave Resistance, Cont.

B. Passive Resistance Lollygag the work– don’t work too hard.

Steal/Break Master’s Stuff

Play Dumb