Protest, Resistance, and Revolution Flashcards
1
Q
Poisoning
A
- very hard crime to detect
- opportunity to poison masters readily available since slaves were responsible for food prep.
- Africans came over w/ the knowledge of herbs/the land which can make it easier to make poisons n the like
- ex: Caesar’s Cure - SC slave called Caesar developed antidote to poison + granted freedom for it + awarded subsidy ever year for it
- poisoning not necessarily from slaves (non-advanced ways of storing food could lead to accidental food poisonings)
2
Q
Arson
A
- slaves commonly blamed for random/non-random house fires
- fires could pop up at any time in these dry areas so not necessarily caused by a person
3
Q
Education
A
- slaves learning to read/write was major form of resistance
- many slaves especially in Southern society aren’t expected to show any level of intellect
- ex: Frederick Douglass
- whites feared that literate slaves could sue for their freedom (many did)
- keeping black illiterate was there preference
- white southerners expected blacks to underachieve in regard to learning (education represented a political statement/affirmation)
- showing blacks are capable of learning at the same level of whites (direct contrary to the inferiority they heard every day of there lives)
4
Q
Slave Initiative
A
- buying/selling goods (trying as hard as one can to lead a free life w/o actually being free)
- learning a skill where you are no longer dependent on a master/overseer (pottery, painting, woodwork etc.)
- gave blacks a level of confidence that they can be independent
5
Q
Running Away
A
- most fearful form of resistance to slave masters
- individuals that were striking the most direct blow to the institution of slavery
- some slaves ran away one/twice while others ran away habitually
- slaves would run from plantations no matter how relatively good there living conditions were
- slave masters always baffled why most privileged slaves still tempted to run away
- generally ran away during summer months (that way they could survive sleeping outside + the time
of year when work load particularly brutal) - most only gone for short periods of time before capture (many returned voluntarily such as Nat Turner + Solomon Northrop)
- slaves in border states/urban areas had easier time escaping (urban slaves could lose themselves in crowded city + create new names/identities - some even passed as white/Indian)
- many traveled on foot + used the stars to guide themselves to the North (frequently assisted by other slaves in getting resources)
- most fugitive slaves relied on their own resourcefulness/intelligence (self-reliant) (much less reliant on white abolitionists/the black community)
- neither free blacks/white abolitionists urged slaves to run away (did it on there own volition)
6
Q
Who Were Runaway Slaves?
A
- most of the time were young men between the ages of 16-35 (80%)
- about 1/3 of these individuals were either skilled/privileged slaves w/ some education (allowed them to make living outside of plantation)
- most of them had some knowledge outside of plantation (had hired themselves out to get experience in the city situation)
- opportunities away from plantation heightened awareness of individuals + gave them more aspiration to escape
- thought of being free dominated the mind of slaves more than any other issue
- interacted w/ free white/black men + married free black women once out
- most made there escape attempts alone/in very small groups of 2/3 people
7
Q
What If Runway Was Caught?
A
- slave legally deemed a runaway if they’re found w/o a travel pass away from the plantation
- if in close proximity to the plantation they’re immediately returned
- If far away from plantation ad taken out in local paper while slave held in jail cell until claimed
- if not claimed in a certain amount of time they were sold/auctioned to the highest bidder
8
Q
Women Runaways
A
- vastly underrepresented among runaway slaves
- family responsibilities kept many women from ever running away (taking care of children + elders)
9
Q
Lunsford Lane
A
- would write narrative saying that thinking of how to get free would occupy his mind every single day
10
Q
Reasons Not to Run
A
- many didn’t runaway since they were concerned w/ leaving their families behind
- many were concerned about where they’d go once they ran away (many had little geographic knowledge/basic reading/writing skills)
- feared slave catchers used to track them
- those that escaped through the water had to fear reptiles/drowning
- overall the odds of running away were not in there favor
11
Q
Creative Ways to Run Away
A
- Henry “Box” Brown shipped himself from VA to Philadelphia (helped by white man named Samuel Smith)
- became small celebrity in black community due to means of escaping
- against the words of Frederick Douglass who warned that making large deals of the efforts of one runaway would inhibit the ability of others to do so in the future
12
Q
William + Ellen Craft
A
- escaped from Macon, GA (white passing Ellen disguised herself as a man than assumed the role of slave holder w/ dark skinned husband William)
- Crafts became popular on the abolitionist speaking circuit (Ellen gained a lot of white support due to her fair appearance) (William was skilled cabinet maker)
- first settled in Philly before moving to Boston
- would leave Boston after Compromise of 1850 (had new retroactive fugitive slave act that allowed masters to reclaim fugitive slave even if they’d escaped to the North long before)
- would finally settle in England before moving back to US afterCivil War
13
Q
Anthony Burns
A
- Anthony Burns escaped from VA to Boston but captured in 1854
- local resistance to capture was so strong it took 1000 soldiers to escort Burns to ship back to slavery
- failed attempts by white abolitionists to rescue Burns had resulted in death of federal guard (50,000 people lined streets of Boston to see Burns aboard the ship)
- Burns remained a slave again less than a year since new master allowed abolitionists to purchase his freedom
- Burns moves to free state + studies at Overland College in OH
14
Q
Mary Walker
A
- slave born in NC (mixed race)
- literate + seamstress + caregiver for master’s wife
- master’s wife would travel North to get special care
- Mary began forming relationships in these Northern communities (ended up running away by losing herself in Philly)
- had some help from abolitionists
- left family behind (tried getting people to send letters for her to keep in contact + try to get someone to buy her freedom)
- most owners took the running away of a privileged slave as a personal betrayal (how could you do this when I’ve given you these skills)
- does not succeed in reuniting w/ her son until after Civil War
- leaves PA after new fugitive slave act (moved to MA)
- was highly reliant on well meaning whites in MA + PA to live safely
15
Q
Underground Railroad
A
- most slaves found there own routes to freedom (the majority didn’t use Underground Railroad) (relied on own cunning)
- Underground Railroad = secret mode of communication
- Railroad operators = people that helped fugitive slaves after they’ve already escaped the plantation (don’t coax blacks into leaving)
- members along Underground Railroad (conductors) provide different services to blacks like food + direction + clothing + new identity + job
- Quakers heavily overrepresented + white/black clergymen (saw it as part of Christian duty to help)
- occasionally ex-slaves would help (most notable was Harriet Tubman)
- no real record of how many slaves actually were freed using underground railroad (much too dangerous to keep records of it - serious crime to help runaway)
-
16
Q
Harriet Tubman
A
17
Q
Levi Coffin
A
- the most famous conductor on the Underground Railroad
- was a white quaker that devoted life to helping fugitive slaves
- would aid over 3000 slaves to freedom
18
Q
International Fugitives
A
- some slaves left the US entirely (especially after 1850)
- fled to England + Mexico + Canada
- Canada = preferred location (bordered many Northern states + no real border crossing at this time)
- atleast 20000 blacks fled to Canada between 1850-60
- blacks welcomed in Canada (established separate communities + created schools/churches + even ran for office)
- some black leaders in Northern cities sent delegates to Canada to scout areas where blacks could settle
- Native Americans also welcomed fugitive slaves (ex: Seminoles (considered most humane)
- problem w/ running away to Native American groups was that they may make you a slave again
- Choctaws/Chickasaws had 5000 different slaves
- number of slaves fled to Mexico (no border crossing but still had to navigate through South to get there)
- Mexico had abolished slavery so fugitive slaves accepted (many were put to work in Mexican military as safeguards against Native Americans)
19
Q
Slave Revolts
A
- slave revolt = two/more slaves that conspire to carry out some form of violence w/ the expressed purpose to overthrow the system of slavery
- has to be recognized as revolt by local authorities to be considered a slave revolt
- not just about killing master/their family but has to be done w/ the express purpose of overthrowing slavery within the county they live in
- only 9 slave revolts between 1691-1865 in North America
- slaves didn’t have benefit of learning from mistakes (either got it right/didn’t) (had one chance to succeed)
- even if a slave revolt had succeeded in capturing a large amount of territory the US army was always waiting to stomp out any real threat
- Constitution allowed President to call military to crush any insurrection in the US (could be black/white led)
- military never needed since white militias always stomped out black slave revolts before they got too big
- most revolt leaders were literate + privileged (all were men + had an outside experience away from the plantation)
- each leader desired to capture a large southern city in hopes of rallying other blacks to join them
- all of the revolts were planned in advance + weren’t spontaneous outbursts w. many planned months in advance(shows that they were able to be kept secret)
- tended to cluster in less oppressive slave areas (Martin Kilson)
- catalyst for revolt was the presence of an individual who had the ability to play multiple roles (most oppressed slaves were less likely to revolt) (Martin Kilson)
- no revolt leader ever regretted there actions even though they knew their capture would mean death
most revolt leaders saw it as there destiny - what God had meant for them to do
- public opinions = weren’t happy about slave rebellions (even white abolitionists weren’t in favor)
20
Q
Haitian Revolution
A
- the only real successful slave revolt was the Haitian Revolution in 1791 led by Toussaint Louvetre
- Haitian Revolution = first independent black nation in the Northern hemisphere
- big fear among whites slave owners was blacks from Haiti would begin trickling into US to influence slaves to carry out similar actions
21
Q
White Miitias
A
- main reason slave revolts never got out of hand
- all white men at this time in the South were armed
- militias were capable of brutal racist attacks against blacks
22
Q
Consequences of Revolts
A
- most of the time once they were stopped it led to a lot of added restrictions on both slaves + free black pop.
- after failed revolt in LA that led to 2 dead whites 82 blacks were slaughtered in retaliation
- following Turner Revolt slave patrols + white vigilantes roamed countrysides killing both slaves + free blacks
- in wake of revolt numerous conspiracies were placed on blacks
- some southern states restricted the assembly of blacks in groups + some states restricted black preachers from practicing
- book burnings + opening of first class mail + restriction of “radical” newsletters were far more common after a slave revolt had happened
- free black seamen prohibited from coming ashore in some states + not allowed to assemble
- slave codes tightened up (many random searches + tighter checks on travel passes for slaves)
- South became more suspicious of traveling whites outside of community who they suspected could possibly be open to abolition
- urban schools for free blacks mostly shut down + were restricted after slave revolt
- forced many political abolitionist stances in government to be restricted
- Southern congressmen prevented any talk of abolitionist + anti-slavery rhetoric whatsoever (tabled any debates over slavery’s survival)
23
Q
Martin Kilson Thesis
A
-
24
Q
Gabriel Prosser Rebellion (1800)
A
- more of a conspiracy than a revolt
- Gabriel Prosser = 24 yr old VA slave (highly skilled blacksmith who could read + write) (said to be physically strong)
- Prosser planned revolt over the course of months
- planned for 2000 slaves to enter Richmond + terrorize the city by burning Warehouse District + killing whites
- hoped to acquire arms + take the governor of Richmond as a hostage + believed slaves throughout VA would stand w/ him
- first problem = slaves knew little of anything about military tactics + arms + leadership
second problem = unrealistic to be able to organize 2000 slaves
third problem = on the day of the proposed attack a severe thunderstorm struck the area which led to flooding
- storm led communication lines to be halted + morale in the revolt to collapse
- two slaves betrayed Gabriel by revealing plan to local whites
- led to execution of 27 different slaves including Prosser
25
Stono Rebellion (1791)
- only slave revolt to occur during the colonial period
- occurs in SC (the only majority black colony)
- 1791 = whites becoming inc. fearful that blacks are going to plot an unrest in the colony w/ such a high black pop.
- several epidemics in the colony also making whites uneasy
- SC = passes a law that says white men can bring guns to Church on Sundays
- before law comes into effect slaves gather at Stono River led by group of slaves from Angola that plot a revolt
- break into store + seize ammunition + kill some whites but not all
- begin to march South towards St. Augustine, FL gathering recruits from other plantations on the way (hoping hundred will join them)
- whites alerted w/in hours of revolt beginning (white militia soon gathered + quickly subdue them)
- some slaves do get away (SC retaliates by killing all the rebellion leaders + pass series of law cracking down on slaves + free blacks)
- SC begins to realize having black majority in the colony is dangerous for whites to maintain power (leads to dec. in slave imports into colony w/ inc. taxes)
26
St. John's the Baptist Parish Revolt (1811)
- the largest slave rebellion in history
- takes place in LA
- involved between 300-500 slaves
- led by free black names Charles Deslondes
- led revolt like military commander (dividing plantations into divisions w/ each led by an officer)
- didn't have sufficient number of weapons (very few firearms mostly axes/hammers)
- quickly subdued by LA militia before they reached New Orleans
- 2 whites killed + 82 slaves killed total (16 of the leaders killed after revolt)
- some of the slaves had come from Haiti which shows Haitian Revolution could've been a catalyst
- happened in region that had an even pop. between blacks/whites
27
Denmark Vessey Conspiracy (1822)
- more of a conspiracy than actual revolt
- Vessey had purchased freedom in 1800 after winning $1500 in state lottery
- was a carpenter in Charleston + well educated (spoke French/Creole/English fluently)
- avid reader of Bible that emphasized verses that showed slaves being violent towards their masters + used black church to recruit
- Vessey had been a seamen + been to Haiti atleast once
- Vessey was highly involved in political debates involving slavery
- plotted revolt over several years (asked for assistance from Haiti)
- chose Second Sunday of July 1822 as day of revolt
- word would leak out much like Prosser Rebellion
- white authorities in Charleston began rounding up blacks (47 blacks condemned to death)
- paranoid whites thought that thousands of blacks were apart of this scheme
- 4 whites also fined + arrested for aiding the black rebels
- trial held ( revealed leaders were skilled slaves + skilled free blacks ironic since these were the individuals seen by white community as the most trustworthy of blacks)
- most of the slaves had been hired out to Charleston/were house servants
- forced Black Methodist Church to leave Charleston (AME Church Vessey used to recruit was destroyed)
- Vessey had planned after revolt when most of whites were killed + had claimed control of Charleston they would escape to Haiti
- In Charleston the slave pop. was larger than the white pop.
- Vessey conspiracy showed whites had to fear urban revolts as well as rural revolts (whites saw large number of free blacks in cities as breeders of corruption)
- Vessey + other leaders were publicly hanged
- Thomas Pickney = suggested black workers be completely excluded from Charleston (not realistic since blacks were majority of city workers)
- Edward Holland = proposed to remove all blacks from SC + police blacks more rigorously
28
Gullah Jack
- lieutenant in the Denmark Vessey Conspiracy
- African born slave from Angola
- was a physician that commanded great respect from black community (many lived in fear of him)
- was recruited in early stages of conspiracy
- gave recruits charms for good luck during revolt (obviously didn't work)
29
Theft
- would take fruits + vegetables + tobacco + money + liquor from masters
- stealing of food especially justified given the meager slave rations
30
Arson
- another form of resistance
- Great Negro Plot; Dallas, TX (1860)
- series of unexplained fires began appearing across North Texas
- at first attributed to dry weather + high heat
- Charles Pryor sends letter to John Marshall saying blacks + abolitionists had been planning secret mass arson as part of revenge due to expulsion of abolitionist preachers from area
- led to formation of vigilance committees (conducted mass interogations among slaves)
- led to death of 10 white abolitionists + slaves due to white paranoia surrounding revolt that never came (known as "Texas Troubles")
31
Other Forms of Resistance
- destruction of property (such as tools for work)
- pretending to be ill/have an injury in order to avoid working + to avoid being sold off away from family members (who would want a slave that can't work)
- work slowdowns/ignorance (like purposely letting livestock get lose)
- could argue cultural practices such as speaking native African languages + formation of families another way slaves resisted
32
Nat Turner Revolt
- occurred in Southampton County, VA (1831)
- Nat Turner = VA slave born in 1800 (was literate + a devout Christian)
- had a series of visions he believed were divine (believed God told him it was his destiny to be the Moses of his people)
- began recruiting slaves slowly
- struck first by killing his masters family than began recruiting more from small farm to small farm
- hoped to be able to mobilize up large plantation of 150 slaves but would be subdued by white militia before it could happen
- strikes/kills every white person (including women + children)
- ended up w/ between 55-60 whites killed in the two days that the rebellion lasted
- Turner would be executed for his crimes
- revolt shattered myth of the contented slave (Turner wasn't treated poorly on plantation yet still acted against the institution)
- whites couldn't blame the Turner revolt on themselves (slavery too instilled in their blood for them to question it)
- whites blame northern abolitionists (specifically William Lloyd Garrison) for filling black heads w/ nonsense
- Garrison = had called for immediate abolition of slavery w/o compensation to slave owners same year of revolt
- abolition = had begun to take a more militant approach by the 1830s
33
Impacts of Turner Revolt
- resulted in reexamination of slavery in state of VA (could be considered foundation of slavery)
- VA = not only imported first slaves but has the most slaves of any state
- concept of slavery began to shift (went from necessary evil to positive good) (Thomas Dew)
- serious tightening of Slave Codes + Slave Patrols
34
Virginia Debates
- VA legislature debates (1831-32) = questioned if slavery should continue in the state (feared it could spawn future revolts)
- emancipation + colonization became a real solution that was proposed (proposed by VA governor John Floyd)
- once slaves were emancipated they would be shipped out of the state/even the country
- Floyd would eventually back off proposal after discussions w/ John C. Calhoun
35
Thomas Dew
- morphed necessary evil concept of slavery into positive good
- argues slavery has been part of human society since beginning + had helped society develop in number of ways
- argues it's not possible to get rid of all blacks in VA (both financial issue of compensation to slave masters + free black pop. expanding too fast to get all blacks out)
- southern states would grasp onto positive good perspective all the way through Civil War
36
Slave Patrols
- different than white militias
- every Southern county required able bodied white men to perform militia duties every year
- patrols typically organized at local levels + funded by planters
- job was to enforce the slave codes
- roam the countryside to make sure slaves had passes + did inspections on slave quarters for contraband + track/punish runaways
- prevented blacks from assimilating in groups (including church)
- regulate not only blacks but white outsiders as well (especially traveling salesmen outside of the community)
- worked closely w/ vigilance committees to investigate slaves
