Slavery In 19th Century America

By Charles Seaton III

Objectives

Learn about how laws and regulations hindered blacks from receiving a proper education.

Provide insight on the roles Americans played in civil rights history even before the movement.

Connect how African American culture of the 19th century is alike and different with today’s African American culture..

Provide anecdotal and factual evidence concerning the African American’s role in 19th century America.

Free (?) Slaves

1. Some slaves were able to buy their freedom from their owners, but as time progressed it became even more difficult to have a satisfactory life.

Virginia Law (Passed in 1830s)

Slave Codes

Fugitive Slave Act (1850)

Dred Scott v. Sanford

Plessy v. Ferguson

Standing Up For Rights (Early)• George Fitzhugh

Born in 18076, George F., a slavery advocate

and argued for either an “all black or all free”

society.

Standing Up For Rights (cont.)

Harriet Beecher Stowe had a great impact on the emancipation of the slaves in the southern United States.

“Whether the story is true or not, the sentiment underscores the public connection between Uncle Tom's Cabin and the Civil War. Is this the little woman who made the great war?”

Also, this book helps inform Lincoln of using Emancipation as a tactic rather than popular choice.

African American Culture

Upon their arrival, some of these African Americans were fortunate enough to bring their African banjo equivalents, otherwise known as the banja or banshaw. In addition they were able to use percussive instruments, which is very common in most African cultures.

This contributes to the music African Americans make now because the use of these instruments led to the upcoming of blues, gospel music, and country music.

Contributions Made to Music

Contributions (cont.)

Historian’s Views On The Topic

Herbert Aptheker – Inspired by American Communist Party, “Only events worthy of noting is one in which men and women spill rivers of blood.”

Eugene Genoverse – Civil War not an accident based on the actions of irresponsible men, but an inevitable conflict between differing social systems.