American Slavery

1. American Slavery

2. Triangle Trade • Europeans traveled to Africa to capture slaves beginning in the 1500’s • Europeans traded guns and goods for African slaves • Slaves were packed into ships during the Middle Passage • The terrible trip to the New World lasted four months

3. Slave Auctions • Slaves arriving in the US were sold at slave auctions • Men were chosen for strength • Women chosen for “breeding” • Families were split up and sold to different owners

4. Plantation System • The southern colonies provided the soil and climate for cotton • White plantation owners imported African slaves to harvest cotton • Plantations were huge farms, with 100’s of acres and slaves

5. The “Big House” • Field hands had the hardest work, but servants worked in the “Big House” cooking, cleaning, and doing chores • Servants in the houses viewed as privileged compared with the field hands

6. The Cotton Gin • In 1793 Eli Whitney invented the cotton gin • Machine allowed seeds to be taken out of cotton, reducing the time to make cotton • Cotton became much more profitable and slavery expanded in the South

7. A Brutal System • Slaves were often branded to show who owned them • Slaves were beaten by overseers • Female slaves were sometimes raped by owners • Owners threatened to sell family members

8. Christianity • Many slaves became Christians • The Bible promised salvation from the difficulties of slave life • Spirituals sung during slavery became the basis for Gospel music

9. Escape • Many slaves tried to escape North • Slave catchers, with dogs. were given rewards for capturing runaways. • However, some slaves were successful and escaped to the safety of the North

10. The Underground Rail Road • People opposed to slavery, both white and black, aided escaping slaves • They helped slaves cross rivers, gave them food and shelter on their journey North • This network of people was was called the Underground Railroad • Harriet Tubman brought over 300 slaves to safety

11. Slave Rebellions • Some slaves rebelled against their masters. • The most famous rebellion was led by a slave and preacher Nat Turner • His rebel slaves killed over 60 slave owners and their families • He was captured and hung, but his rebellion struck fear into slave owners in the South

12. Abolitionism • Abolitionism was the movement to end slavery before the Civil War • It was a movement supported by both blacks and whites • The Anti-Slavery Society in the North called for the immediate end to slavery in the South

13. Different Abolitionist Voices • The most famous abolitionist was former slave Frederick Douglass • He wrote, spoke, and protested slavery, advocating non-violent methods • White Abolitionist John Brown advocated violence, and took up arms against the slaveholders, before he was captured and hung.

14. The Power of the Pen • Many abolitionist wrote against slavery • Frederick Douglass published his North Star • William Lloyd Garrison edited the Liberator • Author Harriet Beecher Stowe wrote a book on the evils of slavery called Uncle Tom’s Cabin

15. Speaking Out • The Grimke sisters spoke against slavery, even though their father owned slaves • Sojourner Truth, a former slave, spoke for freeing the slaves and giving women equal rights • She met with President Lincoln in 1864, who asked her to stay in Washington to help the freed slaves.