African American Freemen

Written by Jodi O’Leary, Esteban Ortiz, and David TassinariWentworth Institute of TechnologyHistory 1101 August 5,2016

https://evresourcesite.wikispaces.com/Other+Reconstruction+Era+Political+Cartoons

http://colonialamericaproject4.wikispaces.com/colonial+america+people

http://mskatzamericanlit.wikispaces.com/1930%27s-pd.1-Aaron-Patrick

http://civilwardailygazette.com/fremont-makes-freemen-of-slaves-declares-martial-law/

• Who were the African American Freemen and how did they fit into colonial America?

• Through their cultures and beliefs in the common values that stood for individual freedom they were able to form an identity for themselves.

• The following presentation will provide you with a background of where they came from and how they came to be free in America. You will learn who they were and what their impact was on the economy and political balance that made up the Americas.

• Join us on a journey through time to understand their formation of the American Identity.

Opening Statement for African American Freemen Culture

Politics

Education

Family

Where did the African American Freemen come from?

• Freed Slaves through manumission (the formal act of emancipation by a slave owner) (boundless, 2016)

• Immigrants fleeing the West Indies during the slave revolt of 1791 against French Saint Dominque (Gates, 2016)

• Immigrants from Cuba (Gates, 2016)

• Those who came with the Louisiana purchase which occurred as a result of Napoleon Bonaparte’s need for cash after the defeat of the French by the slaves. (Gates, 2016)

• The First documentation of free blacks was seen in Northampton County, Virginia in 1662. (Boundless, 2016)

https://www.flickr.com/photos/agathman/7104244325/

Who were the African American Freemen?

• Free black men, women, and children who were a part of the colonial population living both in the North and in parts of the South , who up until the late 1600’s were able to enjoy the same rights as other colonists.

• They were often seen in the same social circles with the whites (English settlers) working and socializing together as a community.

• They were expected to exist like any other member of the community. • Members of the community owned their own land, paid their own taxes, and had the right to vote.• Free Blacks were expected to separate their lives from those of the slaves just as the white men did.• In some circles they came to be known as the “Black Englishmen” essentially expected to live, breathe and act

as though they were white themselves. (Wolfe, 2016)

• In colonial North Carolina and Virginia owning your own land also included the ownership of slaves to work the land. Slaves were often part of the plantation that was purchased or handed down as the result of a death. Owning slaves was just a part of life in the southern colonies.

• One positive aspect of slave ownership was the purchase of family members from the previous owner. This ownership was a form of protection for the enslaved family . (Boundless, 2016)

• Artisans• Craftsmen• Writers • Educators• Planters• Tailors(Boundless,2016)

Life as a Freeman

Influences of African American culture in Society

Free Women of Color with their Children and Servants, oil painting by Agostino Brunias, Dominica, c. 1764–1796.

A change in Freedom• In the late 1700’s White supremacy begins to invade the status of free blacks• They were no longer allowed to enter professional occupations such as law

and medicine as they were barred from such education (Boundless, 2016)• In 1832 a South Carolina judge states that free blacks are part of a degraded

caste of society and are not to be considered equal to white men. (Wikipedia, 2016)

• In 1857 U.S. Supreme Court declares that no black person could ever be declared an “American” citizen (Fonner, 2016)

The Freedom of Religion?

Laws passed in Virginia in the early 1830’s forbade blacks to carry a bible or to preach the word of God. (ushistory.org, 2016)

Against protests from the white church the establishment of the African Methodist Episcopal Church was formed. (ushistory.org, 2016)

Fear of black solidarity lead to many arrests of church members (ushistory.org, 2016)

As a result many leaders of the church became diehard abolitionists (ushistory.org, 2016)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bethel_african_methodist_episcopal_church_(springtown,_new_jersey)

Opportunity Knocks• Abolitionist groups begin to form

http://bytheirstrangefruit.blogspot.com/2014_06_01_archive.html

• The American Society of Free People of Color

• The Pennsylvania Abolition Society (1775)

• New York Manumission Society (1785)(Boundless, 2016)

Leader of the abolitionist movement

• Freedom’s Journal – First black owned newspaper (1827)• Allowed blacks to challenge the racist conceptions about the intellectual inferiority between

colors and whites• Also added fuel to the attacks on slavery (Boundless, 2016)

http://blackpressresearchcollective.org/

http://antebellumamerican.weebly.com/education.html• In the Antebellum years (the period before the Civil War and the time after the War of 1812) the free black

community of Baltimore made strides to increase blacks access to education• Those that had schooling were often grouped together in accordance to the book they were learning.• All age groups were combined • Schools were weaker in the studies taught than those of the white men• Supplies were limited and the classroom was overcrowded• Southern states continued to lack in public educational system until the reconstruction of new biracial

legislature.

• Racial segregation and discrimination including that of institutionalized racism held strong through the 19th and 20th centuries

• History provided us with a glimpse of who the African American Freemen were and what they stood for

• Equality and Freedom were the rights of every American yet not every American was treated as an equal

• Through rights and liberties, trials and tribulations we have shown you how the African American Freemen helped to shape the American Identity now we will show you how they stood in matters such as economy.

American Individualism

Economy

According to boundless,

“By the 19th century, there were flourishing families of free blacks who had been free for generations.”

Free blacks achieved: • An amount of wealth• Social involvement • Owning property (Land)• Paying taxes• Publishing newspapers • Voting (Some Northern states)

(Boundless2016)

Many free African American families in colonial North Carolina and Virginia became landowners.

(Boundless, 2016)

Ironically, some free blacks became slave owners. According to slaverebellion.org, in the year 1860, at New Orleans alone about 3,000 free blacks owned slaves. (slaverebellion, 2016)

(Not Actual Estate)

An example of an African American owning slaves is Cyprian Ricard. Cyprian purchased an estate in Louisiana that included 100 slaves. (Boundless, 2016)

According to Boundless, the majority of free African Americans lived in poverty. However, some had the ability to start businesses that turned out to be prosperous.

“Doctors, lawyers, and other businessmen were the foundation of the early African American middle class. (Boundless, 2016)”

Thomas L. JenningsThomas L. Jennings became the first black man to receive a patent (blackpast.org, 2016).His invention had to do with the discovery of a process called “dry-scouring”; a process used to dry cloth. Today, this process is consider the beginning of modern drying machines. (blackpast.org, 2016)

Examples of successful free African American entrepreneurs include…

Thomas Day

Statue of Thomas Day at Carolina Museum of History

According to Boundless, Thomas Day was a “Famous furniture maker/craftsman in Caswell County, North Carolina. (Boundless, 2016)”

Thomas had the fortune to be born in a free family. His father, John Day, Sr., taught him about the cabinetmaking trade over the years. (Boundless, 2016)

James Forten• Born on September 2, 1766 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania as a free black man• Veteran of the Revolutionary War• Successful businessman• Became owner of sail-making business

(blackpast.org, 2016)

John Sweat RockAccording to Northwestern California University, John Sweat Rock was: • Teacher• Doctor• Dentist• Lawyer• Abolitionist• Civil rights leader

John became the first free African American to be admitted at the United State’s Supreme Court

(nwculaw.edu, 2016)

According to Boundless, Free African American boys could become apprentices to: • Carpenters• Coopers• Barbers• Blacksmiths

Girls' options were much more limited:• Cooks• Cleaning women seamstresses• Child-nurturers

(Boundless, 2016)

Politics

Contributions of Free Blacks to American Politics in the 19th

CenturyBy 1830 there were 319,000 free African Americans in the United States, 150,000 of whom lived in the Northern states.(Boundless, 2016)

In the Southern States, slavery grew to over 8 million slaves according to an 1860 Census, even as Northern States began to abolish it as early as Vermont in 1777. All Northern States followed suit by 1804.(Boundless, 2016)

• 1819 – 11 free States and 11 Slave States• This leads to an increase in

sectionalism in the US. • Congress becomes concerned about an

imbalance and devises the Missouri Compromise, creating a line dividing the territories. Any territory seeking statehood north of the line would be free states, and those south of the line would be slave states. (Boundless,2016)

• In 1830, 150,000 free African Americans live in the Northern States.

• Less than ½ of the Free African Americans in the entire US. • Subject to Discrimination• Unable to receive proper education• Excluded form certain occupations• Subject to gender specific occupations• Generally not represented in politics (African American

Odyssey, 2016)

Source: https://memory.loc.gov/ammem/aaohtml/exhibit/aopart2.html

Context & Representation

• When new territories were acquired in 1846 and 1848, the idea was to create new states, giving them the choice, under the X Amendment of the Constitution, whether or not they would allow slavery.

• Henry Clay brings about legislation in 1850 that gave the US Marshalls the authority to enforce the Fugitive Slave Act, thereby involving directly the federal government on the issue of slavery.

• Kansas-Nebraska Act – Ends the era of compromise as Nebraska territory is split in two parts, creating Kansas. Voting to outlaw slavery in Nebraska leads to outrage of pro-slavery settlers as Kansas prepares to vote on the matter.

• The Bleeding of Kansas – Pro-Slavery settlers move into Kansas in anticipation of a vote on the legality of slavery. Pro-slavery candidates are placed in office and pass new legislation in violation of the Constitution, setting the stage for civil war. (American History, 2016)

Further Sectionalism

Source: http://www.let.rug.nl/usa/essays/1801-1900/politics-and-sectionalism-in-the-1850s/the-compromise-of-1850.php

Slave Codes

• Each colony passes a series of laws known as the Slave codes.

• Each state had different ideas about the rights of slaves, with common aspects between them.

• Slaves were property• Not allowed to own property or

assemble without the presence of a white person

• Special curfews• Absence of rights in a court of law• Illegal to teach a slave to read or write

(Independence Hall Assoc., 2016)

Source: http://www.ushistory.org/us/6f.asp

Dred Scott vs. Sandfort

• Dred Scott was a slave who was sold to US Army Surgeon Dr. John Emerson. His owner was transferred from Missouri to Wisconsin territory.

• As Wisconsin territory was well above the 36°;30’ line where Scott lived for four years before Emerson’s transfer back to St. Louis.

• Scott brings a suit before a court in Missouri seeking his freedom.

• The court ruled in favor of Scott, but the decision was overturned by the Missouri Supreme Court.

• After 11 years, the U.S. Supreme Court under Chief Justice Roger B. Taney ruled that he was still a slave.

• The people had been failed by the system in favor of what was best for the southern people.

• The decision led to increased separatism between the northern and southern states (American History, 2016)

Source: http://www.let.rug.nl/usa/essays/1801-1900/politics-and-sectionalism-in-the-1850s/the-case-of-scott-versus-sandfort.php

Dred Scott

Roger B. Taney

Anti-Slavery Movements

• New England becomes a hotbed of anti-slavery sentiment

• Many publications arose by the 1820’s demonizing the practice of slavery.

David Walker

• 1829 - A freeman of Boston, publishes anti-slavery appeal advocating extreme militancy.

“It is no more harm for you to kill a man who is trying to kill you, than it is for you to take a drink of water when thirsty.”

• Walker’s publication leads to attempted uprisings (HistoryNet, 2016)

Source: http://www.historynet.com/abolitionist-movement

Fredrick Douglas

• Leaves The Liberator – the most famous and influential abolitionist newspaper to publish The North Star newspaper & Frederick Douglass’ Paper (HistoryNet, 2016)

• A gifted writer and speaker, Douglas used his own symbolism against slavery

• Fought to empower African Americans to develop skills and take responsibility for their actions (Frederick Douglas Heritage, 2016)

Source: http://www.frederick-douglass-heritage.org/legacy-significance/

Source: http://www.historynet.com/abolitionist-movement

Martin R. Delany

• Born to a free mother in Virginia• One of the first black men to be admitted to

Harvard Medical School• Traveled to Africa to negotiate for land to

establish a colony without success• Returned to the U.S. to become the first black

officer on a general’s staff in U.S. Army history.• In 1849, Britain recognizes the sovereignty of

Liberia, founded in 1822 as a colony for free-born blacks, freed slaves and mulattos from the U.S. (HistoryNet,2016)

Source: http://www.historynet.com/abolitionist-movement

Black political leaders of the 19th Century

• Hiram Rhodes Revels• First African American to serve in Congress• First action as a senator was to challenge the refusal of

Georgia to seat elected African Americans• Booker T. Washington

• Founded the Tuskeegee Institute• Establish education funds for African Americans

• Blanche Kelso Bruce• Served in the U.S. Senate from 1875 to 1881. • Lobbied for the seating of Pickney Pinchback of Louisiana,

but the Senate refused to certify his election • Denounced immigration restrictions on the Chinese

• George Henry White• Issued a Bill to Stop the lynching of African Americans (The

Classroom,2016)

Source: http://classroom.synonym.com/black-political-leaders-1800s-early-1900s-11194.html

Freemen Blacks played a critical role in the development of politics in the 19th century United States, influencing events such as:

• The Abolitionist Movement• The Compromise of 1850• The Bleeding of Kansas• The Missouri Compromise• Contribution to Sectionalism and Civil War• Awareness of political, judicial and legislative issues.

• Dred Scott case• Slave Codes

• Legacy of strong political and social leaders representing and advocating for African Americans

Blackpast.org. (2016, August 4). The Online Reference Guide to African American History . Retrieved from blackpast.org: http://www.blackpast.org/

Boundless (2016). Boundless U.S. History. Retrieved from https://www.boundless.com/u-s-history/textbooks/boundless-u-s-history-textbook/religion-romanticism-and-cultural-reform-1820-1860-14/the-age-of-cultural-reforms-112/abolitionists-and-the-american-ideal-602-8559/

Boundless (2016). Boundless U.S. History. Retrieved from https://www.boundless.com/u-s-history/textbooks/boundless-u-s-history-textbook/slavery-in-the-antebellum-u-s-1820-1840-16/slavery-in-the-u-s-122/free-blacks-in-the-south-654-3160/

Fonner, E. (2016, August 4). The Contested History of American Freedom. Retrieved from digitalhistory.org: http://digitalhistory.hsp.org/pafrm/essay/contested-history-american-freedom

Free Blacks in the Antebellum Period. (2016, August 4). Retrieved from African American Odyssey: https://memory.loc.gov/ammem/aaohtml/exhibit/aopart2.html

Gates, L. j. (2016, August 4). Free Blacks Lived in the North Right? Retrieved from PBS.org: http://www.pbs.org/wnet/african-americans-many-rivers-to-cross/history/free-blacks-lived-in-the-north-right/

Holloway, J. E. (2016, August 4). THE BLACK SLAVE OWNERS. Retrieved from slaverebellion.org: http://slaverebellion.org/index.php?page=the-black-slave-owners

Heritage, F. D. (2016, August 4). Who was Frederick Douglass? Retrieved from frederick-douglass-heritage.org: http://www.frederick-douglass-heritage.org/life-of-frederick-douglass/

History, A. (2016, August 4). The Compromise of 1850. Retrieved from let.rug.nl: http://www.let.rug.nl/usa/outlines/history-1994/sectional-conflict/the-compromise-of-1850.php

Historynet. (2016, August 4). Abolitionist Movement. Retrieved from historynet.com: http://www.historynet.com/abolitionist-movement

Holloway, J. E. (n.d.). The Black Slave Owners. Retrieved August 04, 2016, from http://slaverebellion.org/index.php?page=the-black-slave-owners

Works Cited

Works Cited ContinuedJohn Rock Biography. (n.d.). Retrieved August 04, 2016, from http://www.nwculaw.edu/john-rock-biography

Kenneth, D. (2016, August 4). Black Political Leaders of the 1800's and Early 1900's. Retrieved from synonym.com: http://classroom.synonym.com/black-political-leaders-1800s-early-1900s-11194.html

UShistory.org. (2016, August 4). "Slave Codes". Retrieved from UShistory.org: http://www.ushistory.org/us/6f.asp

Ushistory.org. (2016, August 4). Free(?) African-Americans. Retrieved from U.S. History Online Textbook: http://www.ushistory.org/us/27d.asp

Watson, E. (n.d.). Forten, James (1766-1842) | The Black Past: Remembered and Reclaimed. Retrieved August 04, 2016, from http://www.blackpast.org/aah/forten-james-1766-1842

Weebly.com. (2016, August 4). Antebellumamerican. Retrieved from weebly.com: http://antebellumamerican.weebly.com/education.html

wikipedia. (2016, August 4). Free People of Color. Retrieved from en.wikipedia.org: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Free_people_of_color

Wolfe, B. (2016, August 4). Free Blacks in Colonial Virginia. Retrieved from encyclopediavirgina.org: http://www.encyclopediavirginia.org/Free_Blacks_in_Colonial_Virginia