4. Slavery and American society

Question 1

Triangular Trade

Answer 1

The transatlantic slave trade was part of a complex trade network where goods from Europe were exchanged for enslaved Africans, who were then transported to the Americas to produce raw materials.

Question 2

Slave Codes

Answer 2

Throughout the 17th and 18th centuries, colonies enacted slave codes that defined enslaved people as property and stripped them of legal rights.
o These codes regulated every aspect of enslaved peoples lives, including mobility, marriage, and education.

Question 3

Virginia Slave Codes:

Answer 3

These codes prohibited interracial marriage and punished white women who had children with Black fathers.

Question 4

New York Slave Codes:

Answer 4

Similar to Virginia’s, these codes solidified perpetual and hereditary slavery.

Question 5

South Carolina Negro Act of 1740

Answer 5

This act outlawed teaching enslaved people to read or write. It also regulated behavior and prescribed punishments for enslaved people. This act explicitly connected literacy with the potential for rebellion.

Question 6

The U.S. Constitution (1787): While not explicitly using the words “slave” or “slavery,” the Constitution included provisions that protected and perpetuated the institution:

Answer 6

o Three-Fifths Clause: Counted enslaved people as three-fifths of a person for representation, giving slaveholding states more political power.
o Fugitive Slave Clause: Required the return of escaped enslaved people to their owners.
o Allowed Congress to abolish the Atlantic slave trade after 1808 but did not prohibit slavery itself.

Question 7

Underground Railroad:

Answer 7

An informal network of abolitionists and free Black people helped escaped enslaved people reach free states and Canada.

Question 8

1800 South Carolina Legislation:

Answer 8

This law reinforced previous anti-literacy laws, imposing new prohibitions and punishments for anyone who taught enslaved people to read or write.

Question 9

1804 Ohio Law

Answer 9

This law denied residency to any Black or mulatto person who could not produce a certificate of freedom.

Question 10

manumission

Answer 10

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Question 11

• 1818 Georgia, 1819 Mississippi, 1830 Louisiana, 1831 Tennessee, 1832 Alabama:

Answer 11

These states enacted laws restricting manumissions due to the increased number of people being freed after the Revolutionary War. Arkansas and Missouri added even more restrictions to Black residency in 1843.

Question 12

Legislations that sought to abolish slavery

Answer 12

• 1808 Congressional Act: Congress took advantage of the clause in the Constitution to abolish the Atlantic slave trade.
• 1863 Emancipation Proclamation: While not a law, this presidential order by Abraham Lincoln declared the freedom of enslaved people in Confederate states during the Civil War. It was a key step towards abolishing slavery.
• 1865 Thirteenth Amendment: This constitutional amendment formally abolished slavery and involuntary servitude in the United States.

Question 13

1865-1866 Black Codes:

Answer 13

Enacted by former Confederate states immediately after the Civil War, these laws aimed to restrict the freedom of formerly enslaved people. They included measures such as vagrancy laws and apprenticeship laws, which forced Black people to work under white supervision and limited their employment choices. They also discriminated against freedmen in areas like employment and the right to carry weapons.

Think of these as the South’s desperate attempt to keep Black people under control after they were supposed to be free. These laws were basically, “Yeah, you’re free, but not really.” They included things like:

Vagrancy laws: If you didn’t have a job, you could be arrested. The catch? Many jobs were only available under white control.
Apprenticeship laws: Forced Black kids into working for white employers under the guise of “learning a trade.”

Question 14

Civil Rights Act (1866)

Answer 14

This was the federal government’s first clap-back at the Black Codes. It was like, “Nah, everyone gets to make contracts, sue people, and own property, no matter their color.” It didn’t end racism, but it gave Black people some basic civil rights.

Question 15

Civil Rights Act (1875)

Answer 15

An ambitious but doomed effort by Congress to say, “Hey, everyone should be able to use public spaces equally.” The Supreme Court later struck it down, basically saying, “Just kidding, segregation is fine.”
Congress attempted to guarantee equal access to public accommodations for Black people, though this would later be struck down by the Supreme Court.

Question 16

1877 Georgia Poll Tax:

Answer 16

This tax was imposed on every citizen who wanted to vote. It was not a burden for most whites, but it was a barrier for many black people who were deeply in debt.

Question 17

Late 19th and early 20th Century Jim Crow Laws:

Answer 17

These laws, enacted throughout the South, mandated racial segregation in public facilities like schools, transportation, and accommodations.
These laws were segregation’s best friends. Schools, buses, bathrooms—everything was separated by race. And spoiler: the “equal” part of “separate but equal” was a total lie. White facilities were always better.

Question 18

Literacy Tests and Minimum Education Requirements

Answer 18

These requirements were put in place to bar black men from voting.

Question 19

Grandfather Clause

Answer 19

This clause restricted suffrage to men whose grandfathers were eligible to vote before 1867. This measure was put in place to disenfranchise black men from voting.

Question 20

Plessy v. Ferguson (1896)

Answer 20

This Supreme Court decision gave segregation the green light by saying “separate but equal” was constitutional. It was a huge setback for civil rights, making discrimination totally legal under the guise of fairness.
This Supreme Court decision upheld the constitutionality of “separate but equal” facilities for Black people, legitimizing segregation.

Question 21

1944 Smith v. Allwright

Answer 21

The Supreme Court ruled that laws preventing Black people from voting in primary elections were unconstitutional.

Question 21

1964 Civil Rights Act:

Answer 21

This landmark legislation outlawed discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, or national origin. It prohibited discrimination in public accommodations, employment, and federally funded programs. It also included the word “sex” as a protected category because of an attempt to mock the bill, however it backfired and the law was enacted.

Question 22

1965 Voting Rights Act

Answer 22

This act suspended discriminatory voting tests, authorized federal registrars to register voters in states with a history of disenfranchisement, and ultimately sought to enforce voting rights. It also sent federal workers to make sure voter registration wasn’t being sabotaged.

Question 23

1966 Harper v. Virginia State Board of Elections

Answer 23

Supreme Court ruled that state poll taxes were unconstitutional.

Question 24

When did people of African descent first arrive in North America, and under what circumstances?

Answer 24

Africans were present in North America as early as the 1520s, participating in Spanish colonial efforts, predating the English settlement at Jamestown.

Question 25

What was significant about the year 1619 in the context of African presence in the English colonies?

Answer 25

In 1619, approximately 20 Africans arrived in Jamestown, Virginia. Initially treated as indentured servants, their status shifted towards permanent enslavement, marking the start of a racial distinction in servitude.

Question 26

How did the transition from indentured servitude to formal slavery occur in the American colonies?

Answer 26

By the mid-17th century, colonies formalized slavery through legislation and court rulings to clarify the status of Africans and create a legal framework for slavery, ensuring a supply of unpaid labor.

Question 27

What role did racial ideology play in the development of slavery in the American colonies?

Answer 27

Racial ideology portrayed Africans as inferior, heathens, and savages, justifying their enslavement. This was reinforced by legal and social systems, embedding white supremacy into the societal framework.

Question 28

What was the Triangular Trade, and how did it function?

Answer 28

The Triangular Trade was a trade network where European goods were exchanged for enslaved Africans, who were transported to the Americas to produce raw materials, which were then sent back to Europe.

Question 29

Describe the conditions of the Middle Passage during the transatlantic slave trade.

Answer 29

The Middle Passage was a brutal journey where enslaved Africans faced inhumane conditions, high mortality rates due to disease, abuse, and starvation, with limited space, hygiene, and sanitation.

Question 30

What were the main African ports involved in the transatlantic slave trade?

Answer 30

The transatlantic slave trade was conducted through various coastal ports in Africa, serving as key points for the exchange and transportation of enslaved Africans.

Question 31

How extensive was the transatlantic slave trade in terms of numbers?

Answer 31

Between 1501 and 1866, millions of Africans were forcibly transported across the Atlantic, with the trade profoundly affecting the demographics and economies of multiple continents.

Question 32

some key abolitionists

Answer 32

David Walker: An abolitionist who advocated for the immediate end of slavery. He was outspoken and wrote a militant pamphlet against the institution.
Frederick Douglass: A formerly enslaved person who became a prominent abolitionist, orator, and writer. He was a major voice in the fight to abolish slavery and later worked to secure rights for Black people after the Civil War.
Harriet Tubman: A conductor on the Underground Railroad who risked her life to help enslaved people escape to freedom.
William Lloyd Garrison: A prominent white abolitionist and newspaper editor who advocated for immediate emancipation of enslaved people and pushed for racial equality.
Abraham Lincoln: The 16th President of the United States, who issued the Emancipation Proclamation and ultimately guided the Union to victory in the Civil War. His actions and policies were key in the fight against slavery and securing its abolition.

Question 33

How did slavery underpin the Southern economy in the United States?

Answer 33

Slavery was the foundation of the Southern agrarian economy, driving the production of cash crops like cotton, tobacco, and rice, which were crucial for both domestic and international trade.

Question 34

In what ways were enslaved people considered capital within the economic structure?

Answer 34

Enslaved people were treated as essential assets, serving as a key form of capital in the economy. Their labor was crucial to the wealth of the plantation system and broader economic growth.

Question 35

How did the economic systems of the North and South differ in relation to slavery?

Answer 35

The South relied heavily on an agricultural economy dependent on enslaved labor, while the North had a more diversified economy with industries that indirectly benefited from slavery, such as textile production relying on Southern cotton.

Question 36

What was the domestic slave trade, and how did it affect the economy post-1808?

Answer 36

After the Atlantic slave trade was abolished in 1808, a domestic slave trade emerged, moving over one million enslaved people from the Upper South to the Deep South and West to meet the labor demands of expanding agricultural economies.

Question 37

What were the key differences between indentured servitude and slavery?

Answer 37

Indentured servants, mainly European, worked for a set period in exchange for passage to America, while enslaved people, primarily of African descent, were subjected to lifelong servitude, with status determined by race and ancestry.

Question 38

Why was the enslavement of Native Americans less systematic compared to African slavery?

Answer 38

Native Americans were less systematically enslaved due to their knowledge of the land and tribal connections, which made their capture and enslavement less advantageous for colonists compared to Africans.

Question 39

What types of labor did enslaved people perform, and what were their working conditions?

Answer 39

Enslaved people worked in agriculture, infrastructure, and skilled trades under grueling conditions, with minimal rest and harsh oversight, contributing significantly to the economic development of the colonies and the United States.

Question 40

Describe the living conditions and the treatment of enslaved people.

Answer 40

Enslaved people lived in dire poverty with inadequate food, clothing, and shelter, facing severe violence, including beatings, whippings, and psychological abuse, and were subject to extreme cruelty with little to no legal protection.

Question 41

How did enslaved people maintain cultural resilience despite their harsh conditions?

Answer 41

Enslaved people preserved African traditions and created unique cultures through music, religion, and storytelling, fostering community bonds and cultural identity despite oppression. Creole language.

Question 42

What were some ways enslaved people resisted their enslavement?

Answer 42

Enslaved people resisted through escape attempts, rebellions like the Stono Rebellion and Nat Turner’s Rebellion, work slowdowns, and acts of sabotage. The Underground Railroad also played a crucial role in helping many escape to freedom.

Question 43

What was the Underground Railroad?

Answer 43

The Underground Railroad was a secret network of abolitionists and free Black people who helped enslaved people escape to free states and Canada, often risking their lives in the process.

Question 44

Who were some key figures in the abolitionist movement?

Answer 44

Key figures included David Walker, Frederick Douglass, Harriet Tubman, and William Lloyd Garrison. They played critical roles in advocating for the end of slavery through speeches, writings, and direct action.

Question 45

What was the Kansas-Nebraska Act, and why did it lead to violence?

Answer 45

The Kansas-Nebraska Act of 1854 allowed the settlers in those territories to decide for themselves whether to allow slavery (popular sovereignty). This led to violent conflict known as “Bleeding Kansas” as pro-slavery and anti-slavery settlers clashed.

Question 46

How did the Missouri Compromise try to balance slave and free states?

Answer 46

The Missouri Compromise of 1820 allowed Missouri to enter as a slave state and Maine as a free state, maintaining a balance in the Senate. It also prohibited slavery in the Louisiana Territory north of the 36°30′ latitude. It was later overturned by the Kansas-Nebraska Act.

Question 47

What was the Emancipation Proclamation?

Answer 47

Issued by President Abraham Lincoln in 1863 during the Civil War, it declared all enslaved people in Confederate states to be free. While it did not end slavery entirely, it was a crucial step towards abolition.

Question 48

What did the 13th Amendment do, and when was it ratified?

Answer 48

Ratified in 1865, the 13th Amendment abolished slavery and involuntary servitude in the United States, except as punishment for a crime.

Question 49

What is the 14th Amendment, and when was it ratified?

Answer 49

Ratified in 1868, the 14th Amendment granted citizenship to all persons born or naturalized in the U.S., including former enslaved people, and guaranteed all citizens “equal protection of the laws.”

Question 50

What rights did the 15th Amendment secure, and when was it ratified?

Answer 50

Ratified in 1870, the 15th Amendment granted African American men the right to vote, stating that the right to vote cannot be denied based on race, color, or previous condition of servitude.

Question 51

What were Black Codes, and how did they affect African Americans after the Civil War?

Answer 51

Black Codes were laws passed in the South immediately after the Civil War to restrict the freedom of African Americans. They aimed to control labor and behavior of former enslaved people and maintain a labor force similar to slavery.

Question 52

What were Jim Crow laws, and how did they enforce segregation?

Answer 52

Jim Crow laws, enacted in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, mandated racial segregation in public facilities such as schools, transportation, and restrooms. These laws perpetuated an unequal society, often resulting in inferior services and opportunities for Black people.

Question 53

How were African Americans disenfranchised during the Jim Crow era?

Answer 53

African Americans were denied the right to vote through poll taxes (fees to vote), literacy tests (difficult reading tests), and grandfather clauses (only those whose grandfathers could vote before the Civil War could vote). These tactics effectively excluded many Black voters.

Question 54

What was the Ku Klux Klan (KKK), and how did it use violence?

Answer 54

The KKK is a white supremacist terrorist organization that emerged after the Civil War. They used violence, including lynching, arson, and murder, to intimidate Black people and suppress their civil rights. For example, the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre, orchestrated by white mobs, destroyed a prosperous Black community and resulted in many deaths.

Question 55

What was the significance of Plessy v. Ferguson (1896)?

Answer 55

In Plessy v. Ferguson, the U.S. Supreme Court upheld the constitutionality of racial segregation under the “separate but equal” doctrine. This decision legitimized decades of segregation and discrimination against African Americans.

Question 56

How did economic systems like sharecropping and tenant farming affect Black people post-slavery?

Answer 56

Sharecropping and tenant farming were systems where Black farmers worked on land owned by white landlords in exchange for a share of the crops. These systems often resulted in perpetual debt and poverty for Black farmers, creating a cycle of economic dependency similar to slavery.

Question 57

What is systemic racism, and how is it a legacy of slavery?

Answer 57

Systemic racism refers to the policies and practices entrenched in institutions that disproportionately affect people of color. This legacy of slavery manifests in ongoing economic inequality, disparities in education, healthcare, and criminal justice.

Question 58

How has African American culture influenced American society?

Answer 58

African American culture has profoundly shaped American music (jazz, blues, hip-hop), literature (Langston Hughes, Maya Angelou), art, and social movements (Civil Rights Movement). These contributions have enriched American culture and spurred significant societal change.

Question 59

Why is the struggle for racial justice still ongoing in the United States?

Answer 59

Despite progress, racial inequalities persist due to systemic racism, economic disparities, and social prejudices. The ongoing struggle for racial justice seeks to address these issues through activism, policy changes, and cultural shifts.