Slave Resistance in the United States

The African-American population was under slavery since the start of the 16th century. Before the civil war of the African-American community, many immigrants had been providing free labor to wealthy natives in America. However, the 1787 constitution was amended to curb the instances of slavery particularly in the South. Blacks in the South were the most affected individuals of slavery after the invention of a cotton gin.

Life under slavery

Life under slavery in the 1700’s and 1800’s brought frustrations to many people. Most of the middle class from the South spent long hours performing heavy duties. The period experienced the creation of slave states and Free states (Du Bois, Burghardt, and Marable 96). Each group was required to stay in its jurisdiction. In his book entitled Slaves without Masters, Ira Berlin reveals that each race in the country had its specific culture, learning centers, and also health institutions. Similarly, Savage highlights that many people of the Bruce origin had been detained until 1823 when they were set free by their masters (30).

Free Blacks and slavery in the city

Initiatives of freeing Blacks and slavery in the city started in the 16th

century. Later, there was the Delaware Antebellum program which exclusively aimed at freeing the African American in the city. The initiative continued until 1790 when Kent County released more than 2,570 Blacks. Other towns like the New Castle and Sussex began freeing Blacks (Savage 96). By 1800, America had witnessed more rebellions that aimed at liberating the African American population.

Slave resistance

Slaves developed several resistance attempts as a way of averting servitude in America. The Blacks in the South used nearly one-third of the 18th century to set rebellions against slavery (Savage 6). The first struggle against oppression began in Gloucester in Virginia in 1663. Other revolts ensued in this city in 1672, 1687, 1800, and 1885 respectively (Giddings 40). The other resistance was the Stono Rebellion that started in 1739 in the Southern region of Carolina. Besides, there were also the New York slave uprisings of 1712, the German Coast uprising of 1811, and the Amistad ship uprising of 1764.

Slave religion

African-American slaves in the South made regular interaction with people from other regions. Among them were the Protestants evangelical missionaries who preached the essence of unity. Their insights triggered the Native Americans to develop a positive attitude towards the immigrants. On the other hand, African Americans accepted to be converted to Christianity since the religion gave them hope. Evangelists like Lucretia Alexander despised what the “white folk preachers” were practicing (Savage 51). There was also the advancement of versions like the Nat Turner philosophy which warned oppressors about the Day of Judgment.

The slave family

Before the eruption of civil war, slaves’ families lived in regions that were referred to as the slave states. Slave states were mostly found in the South. Here, African Americans attended their churches, schools, and even hospitals. Historians, such as Du Bois, Burghardt, and Marable argued that the slave family lived in tiny pieces of lands which could not sustain them fully (76). They were forced to work for the ”servants“to maintain their families (Giddings 19). In 1812, there was an initiative to free 488,070 Blacks who represented 10% of the entire slave population in the South.

Conclusion

Summarily, uprisings like Stono Rebellion, German Coast uprising, and others significantly helped in curbing slavery in the African American population. Such resistances acted as a turning point to the society, which could have, otherwise, become extinct in the US due to oppression. Moreover, Christian activities were essential as they helped in preaching against slavery.

Works Cited

Du Bois, William Edward Burghardt, and Manning Marable. Souls of Black Folk. Routledge, 2015.

Giddings, Paula J. When and Where I Enter. HarperCollins e-books, 2014.

Savage, Kirk. Standing Soldiers, Kneeling Slaves: Race, War, and Monument in Nineteenth-Century America. Princeton University Press, 2018.