Chapter 6 Building Communities in the Early Republic - PowerPoint Presentation

Chapter 6Building Communities in the Early Republic From Slavery to Freedom 9 th ed.

© 2010 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 2 Black Population Census of 1790

African Americans in Demographic PerspectiveThe Mid-Atlantic States and New EnglandGradual abolition lawsSlavery persisted; by eve of Civil War there were no slaves in the North Slavery did not end in Delaware until after Civil War New England ahead of other regions in abolition of slavery Slavery persisted west of the southern Appalachians© 2010 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 3

African Americans in Demographic PerspectiveDevelopment of Black CommunitiesTiming and character of abolition important in building of black communitiesDeveloped rapidly in cities, especially in the North Economic discrimination and social ostracism remained African Americans gravitated to East Coast cities Also time of white migration Occupational opportunity varied from place to placeIn Boston, blacks compressed to lower economic ranks© 2010 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 4

African Americans in Demographic PerspectiveBlack Migration to BostonEarly abolition in Massachusetts spurred black migration to BostonIn 1788, Massachusetts legislature passed measure to prevent black in-migration from other states Blacks in Philadelphia Early rise in black community attributed to fact Pennsylvania first state to pass emancipation law Created black urban institutions, although majority of jobs remained unskilled © 2010 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 5

African Americans in Demographic PerspectiveNew York City’s Black CommunitySlavery legal until 1799; black community remained heavily enslavedFree population grew larger during this time Many coming from surrounding countryside and the Upper South Mostly performed unskilled labor; some were artisans © 2010 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 6

Building Community InstitutionsBuilding Community InstitutionsInstitutions cornerstones of black communitiesEmerged as result of blacks’ desire to participate in shared cultural traditions Independent Black Churches Organized in both North and South First Great Awakening Religious revivals attracting blacks to evangelical antislavery Methodists and Baptists© 2010 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 7

Building Community InstitutionsRichard Allen and Absalom JonesFounders of African Free SocietyDecided to break away from St. George’s Methodist Episcopal Church after being directed to sit in balcony under a new segregated seating policy The African Methodist Episcopal Church Methodist general council attempted to control Allen’s new church Pennsylvania Supreme Court decision led way for this first black-led denomination AME grew, with branches as far as Pittsburgh and Charleston© 2010 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 8

Building Community InstitutionsSeparate Black InstitutionsCommunity associations and institutions created urban black leadership classBased on common values Boston School Committee’s 1812 decision to subsidize black schools root of Boston’s segregated school system © 2010 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 9

Building Community InstitutionsWhite PhilanthropyEnhanced institution buildingBlack and White Leadership ConflictsStruggled over differences, control © 2010 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 10

Blacks and American Party PoliticsDisfranchisement of BlacksState legislatures opened up voting for white men by abolishing property restrictions, but many of the statutes disfranchised black men Free-black property holders found it increasingly more difficult to vote Black vote was an issue in the increasing political partisanship of 1790s Federalists more likely to oppose slavery, be sympathetic to role of blacks as citizens © 2010 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 11

Blacks and American Party PoliticsThe Haitian RevolutionAfter long struggle, Haiti became the world’s first black republic American politics divided over the Revolution Federalists tended to support © 2010 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 12

© 2010 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 13 Toussaint Louverture

The Louisiana PurchaseFederalists and Free BlacksFree-black voters preferred Federalists because of prominence in early antislavery societies Not all Federalists were critical of slavery Southern Federalists still supported slavery Party’s northern base committed to growth of cities, manufacturing, and maritime trades Opened jobs for urbanized free-black populationElections contentiousFederalists courted blacks in Boston to counterbalance Democratic Republican Irish immigrantsBlacks intimidated in polling places© 2010 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 14

Black Writing and Art in the New NationBlacks adopted various literary forms to define position in relation to dominant white societyLinked African American communities with others of African descent in Atlantic world Pamphlet Literature Usually published orations; countered racist depictions of blacks in dominant society’s print media Commemorations of end of slave trade; accompanied annual celebrations © 2010 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 15

Black Writing and Art in the New NationAppeals to ReadersSuccess of pamphlet as vehicle of social transformation depended on appeal to white readers Black leaders defended claims for equal citizenship; Africa as center of black heritage became a theme © 2010 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 16

Black Writing and Art in the New NationThe Jones and Allen PamphletFirst blacks to receive a copyright for pamphlet; defended black communities’ behavior during 1793 yellow fever epidemic Pamphleteers attempted to replace negative racial images with group images of respectability; also engaged in internal community policing © 2010 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 17

Black Writing and Art in the New NationThe Spiritual AutobiographyJupiter Hammon; Olaudah Equiano Banneker’s Almanacs Most accomplished black man of letters in early U.S. Issued almanacs; appealed for more liberal attitude toward blacksAppointed to lay out streets of Washington, DCThe Painter Joshua JohnstonFirst documented professional black painter© 2010 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 18

The War of 1812Black Military ServiceDuring War of 1812, northern black communities pledged allegiance to U.S. governmentNew York passed act for recruitment of two black regiments Promised same pay as white soldiers; freedom to slaves who enlisted with permission of master Vigilance Committee in Philadelphia called on black leaders to mobilize community More than 2,500 blacks helped to erect defenses © 2010 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 19

The War of 1812Gallant ServiceSoldiers of color instrumental in victory at the Battle of New OrleansPraised by Jackson for their gallantry Also fought on British side British promised freedom to fugitive slaves © 2010 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 20

© 2010 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 21 The Battle of New Orleans

Black ColonizationColonization EffortsBlack settlement outside U.S. appealed to different groups for different reasonsEscaped slaves looking for place to live free Black religious leaders wanted to go back to Africa for missionary purposes Slavery proponents wanted removal of free blacks in order to keep slavery secure Many antislavery whites supported colonization because of difficulty of races to live in harmony © 2010 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 22

Black ColonizationWilliam ThorntonEarliest campaign for colonization to AfricaBased on belief that races could not live amicably Paul Cuffee Man of mixed African and Indian descent who owned and built ships; proposed to establish emigration and trade relations with Sierra Leone With James Forten’s help, established Friendly Society of Sierra Leone in Philadelphia Sailed to Freetown in 1815 from Boston with 38 emigrants, at his own expense© 2010 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 23

© 2010 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 24 Paul Cuffee

Black ColonizationAmerican Colonization SocietyMade up of mix of slaveholders and abolitionistsColony of Liberia formed as result of its efforts Black Opposition Philadelphia blacks negatively responded to colonization Black opposition grew in many cities Whether to stay or leave America continued to be debate in black communities throughout antebellum period© 2010 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 25

The Contagion of LibertyGabriel’s Rebellion in VirginiaAugust 30, 1800, more than 1,000 blacks participated in a failed attempt to rebel with purpose of negotiating end of slavery Conspirators influenced by Haitian revolution, news from other parts of the world from black sailors, and the arrival of French-speaking slaves and slave owners Plots and Rumors Unrest among slaves continued into following year © 2010 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 26