Northern emancipation, 1777-1804 Flashcards
Northern states
Never had the numbers or economic importance compared to the south
Vermont
Banned slavery as part of their constitution
At the time there was only 50 enslaved people in the state
Massachusetts
Used their constitution (Declaration of Independence) to undermine slavery - “all men are born free”
New Hampshire
Followed Vermont and Massachusetts’ view in 1792
Gradual emancipation
Left those already enslaved as slaves
However any child born after the law was passed would be free when they became an adult
Other northern states followed suit
Pennsylvania 1780
Connecticut 1784
Rhode Island 1784
New York 1799
New Jersey 1804
New York and New Jersey needed
Pressure from abolitionists to agree to end freedom
Many slaves were
Sold to the south rather than being freed
Total black population 1830 in the north
125,000
Of this, 3000 were still slaves
