Black History

1. Black History

2. Slavery • 1517 Black plantation slavery begins in the New World when Spaniards begin importing slaves from Africa to replace Indians who died from harsh working conditions and exposure to disease. • 1619A Dutch ship with 20 African slaves aboard arrives at the English colony of Jamestown, Virginia

3. Slavery • 1739The Stono Rebellion, one of the earliest slave insurrections, leads to the deaths of at least 20 whites and more than 40 blacks west of Charleston in the black-majority colony of South Carolina.

4. Slave Rebellion • The third notable slave rebellion was led by Nat Turner (q.v.), at Southampton county, Va., in the summer of 1831. On the evening of August 21 a band of 6 slaves started their crusade against bondage, killing a total of 57 whites and attracting up to 70 fellow slaves to the conspiracy during the next few days. On the 24th, hundreds of militia and volunteers stopped the rebels near Jerusalem, the county seat, killing at least 40 and probably nearer 100. Turner was hanged on November 11.

5. Crispus Attucks • 1770Crispus Attucks, an escaped slave, is killed by British soldiers in the Boston Massacre. He is one of the first men to die in the cause of American independence.

6. Benjamin Banneker • 1790Benjamin Banneker, mathematician and compiler of almanacs, is appointed by President George Washington to the District of Columbia Commission, where he works on the survey of Washington, D.C.