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Life of Anothony Johnson and Sons
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Introduction
Anthony Johnson was an African captured into slavery and then shipped to Virginia to work on the Bennett's Welcome. Over the next about twenty years, he married another slave named Mary and fathered four children. In the 1640's, Anthony and Mary bought their freedom after half a lifetime of servitude. Eventually, Anthony gained 250 acres of land and his own servant. -
Anthony acquires land
Anthony Johnson and Captain Taylor entered the corn field, and when they returned, Anthony and Taylor had divided their corn. He was glad he knew that he had his own land and could work and pay when he pleased. Captain Taylor asked if he was content. Anthony said, " I am very well content with what I have or words to that effect." Anthony, a free black, was to share land in Northampton with Captain Taylor, a free white. This was progress because not many Africans could own land during that time. -
Anthony beats an Englishman in court
Although court cases in the 1600s were mostly won by white men, Anthony Johnson was able to win his count case and get his slave back when he had a white man as an ally. Because he had a white man saying that he agreed and the slave was rightfully Anthony's, he won the case. Anthony had beat an Englishman in court. -
Act XII
Act XII declared that, "Be it therefore enacted and declared by this grand assembly, that all children borne in this country shalbe held bond or free only according to the condition of the mother." This was an example of diminishing progress because now if Anthony married another slave, their children would also be slaves. All the other slaves around Jamestown were destined for the same terrible fate: If the mom was a slave, the children would be. -
Act III
Act III claimed that baptism does not alter the condition of the slave's bondage. Therefore, if Anthony's children were baptized, they would still be slaves for life. English men had become greedy and didn't want to lose their slaves after they were baptized. This was diminishing progress for all slaves because now not even God could free them from their bondage. -
Act IV
This act was very important to all Africans and English men. First of all, it shows that slaves can no longer be in the office, therefore making it almost impossible for any African to be able to change the laws. If an African was already in the office, he must pay 500 pounds of current money and 20 pounds of like money every month he stays in the office. English were showing that they were afraid Africans would change the laws. -
Conclusion
Deminishind progress had a very large effect on Anthony Johnson's life. IOf slavery was still going on today, would you be like Anthony; just trying to fit in? Or would you be one of the people fighting for the end of slavery? Which path would YOU take?
