Slavery and the Making of America Essay Example

emerged.

This occurred when three indentured servants, namely John Punch, James Gregory, and Victor, who were toiling in tobacco fields in Chesapeake Bay, became fed up with their mistreatment by their master. The trio made an attempt to escape but were apprehended after a few days and prosecuted. James Gregory and Victor, the two white indentured servants, received additional years added onto their contracts as punishment. However, John Punch, the black indentured servant, was sentenced to serve until his death, thus becoming the first "slave" during this time.

In the early 18th century, there was an increase in the number of slaves brought in for slave trade.This was doneto meet the growing demandin agricultureand satisfy ambitious farmers.

These slaves were primarily taken from Africa, including prisoners of war, women, and children, who were then subjected to intense labor. The most valuable Africans brought in were males under 20 and females under 20, as they could serve for longer periods. Eventually, the slaves staged their first rebellion known as the Stone Rebellion.

The Stone Rebellion occurred in 1731 on a Sunday when whites attended church and left the slaves to perform their work. As a precautionary measure, whites carried their weapons to church out of fear of a rebellion. A group of slaves attacked a weapon store, killed its owner, and displayed his head on a pole. Using the stolen weapons, they raided other places and increased their numbers. However, they were ultimately surrounded by whites which resulted in the death of most rebels.

To discourage other slaves from rebelling, the heads of the slain rebels were impaled on poles along a major road. Following the Stone

Rebellion came the implementation of Black Codes that restricted the civil rights and liberties of black individuals. In episode two titled "Liberty in the Air," we follow Quack's story - a slave employed as a painter in New York - who clandestinely leaves the governor's house to visit and converse with his wife. Despite repeated capture attempts, if found there again by guards ordered by the governor himself; Quack is escorted off the propertyWhile being escorted away, Quack defiantly vows to one day burn down the governor's house. True to his words, the governor's house eventually goes up in flames, leading authorities to suspect Quack as the perpetrator. However, they soon discover a string of other building fires throughout New York City, suggesting a rebellion among black slaves and causing panic among the white population. Consequently, Quack and 12 other men are later sentenced to be burned at the stake. By the 1700s, around 5,000 slaves are annually imported into the country from Africa under brutal conditions that result in numerous deaths during their journey to the colonies. The justification for slavery by white colonists involves dehumanizing black individuals and legally establishing their ownership. Despite facing such oppression, black slaves manage to embrace both African and American cultures during this era. This episode ultimately leads us into the Revolutionary War—a conflict initially between Britain and thirteen colonies that later expands to involve Spain, Netherlands, France—and results in America gaining independence from European rule. During this war period, African Americans are forced into military service by their masters despite lacking citizenship rights; however, some join opposing forces or escape their owners in pursuit of freedom.After the

war, the promise of emancipation for African Americans who served was not kept, leading to their return to slavery. The third episode of "Seeds of Destruction" tells the story of Harriet Jacobs, who defied laws by learning to read and write in 1813. She was sold as a house slave at a young age to Dry.Norms and faced many challenges, including sexual exploitation by her owner for profit in selling other slaves.

Despite Norms' attempts, Harriet Jacobs encountered Samuel Treadwell Sawyer, a well-known lawyer from a prominent family. She entered into a sexual relationship with Sawyer and had his child at 16 and 19 years old. As a result, she became the first woman to write a slave narrative called "Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl," exposing the grim realities of slavery.

In 1831, Nat Turner, a preacher, led a rebellion involving 70 slaves in Virginia. Turner used biblical readings to justify the uprising. Within 48 hours, these rebels killed 57 white individuals. This event worsened the situation for slaves as innocent people suffered punishment due to white fear of more uprisings and their need for dominance.

Starting with Vermont in 1777, individual states began abolishing slavery.Simultaneously, the introduction of the cotton gin resulted in increased profitability for cotton and led to the expansion of slavery in the southern region. Ultimately, this division played a crucial role in dividing the nation into North and South. Slavery was outlawed in the North while it continued to grow in the South. In episode four, titled "The Challenge of Freedom," we witness Robert Smalls and his crew seize a Confederate ship in Charleston Harbor, along with

women and children, as they seek freedom by traveling to Fort Sumter. Later on, Smalls becomes a politician during Abraham Lincoln's tenure and advocates for African Americans to join the Union Army. This episode primarily focuses on the Civil War and subsequent Reconstruction period.

In 1865, slavery is abolished with the passage of the 13th Amendment. Subsequently, black civil rights are safeguarded by both the 14th and 15th Amendments. Additionally, during this time period (specifically referred to as "the sass's"), assistance is provided to former slaves through programs like The Freedmen's Bureau which offers compensation and small plots of land as they integrate back into society.

However, despite these granted rights and freedoms, organizations such as Ku Klux Klan militantly oppose racial equality thereby perpetuating racial segregation that ensures blacks remain inferior to whites within society. This demonstrates that although freedom from slavery has been achieved for blacks, systemic oppression continues to persist.In summary, Slavery and the Making of America explores the United States' progress towards equality amidst ongoing challenges. The text emphasizes the significance of sharing inspiring tales of African American slaves and other notable figures from that era. These stories offer insights into the specific obstacles faced and how they were overcome and endured.