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Rise of Slavery
Transatlantic slave trade formed the cornerstone for British Empire. -
Virginia Slave Code
Slaves are considered Real estate, The code acquits masters who kill slaves during punishment, forbids slaves and colored peoples from physically assaulting white people and denies slaves the right to bear arms or move abroad without the permission of their masters. The Virginia code is established to prevent uprising by the slaves and to give the white man complete power over their laborers. -
Stono Rebellion
Rebellious upheaval of slaves against cruel white slave owners led by a literate slave named Jemmy. During this battle several white men were killed before the slaves were stopped by the militia. The perpetrators of this rebellion were executed or sold to the west indies. As a result of this revolt, more strict guidelines were set for slaves that limited their ability to assemble, grow their own food, learn to read and write, and travel freely. -
New York Conspiracy Trials
In these trials 17 New Yorkers were executed. Out of these men, 13 were black men who were burned at the stake and 4 white men were publicly hung. These men were held responsible for the increase in violence and breakout of 13 fires and were convicted without any proof. As a consequence of the trials, 70 slaves were sold to the west indies. These trials depicted the racial divide in British America. Due to rising fear of uprising by the slaves, whites had repressed the african slaves. -
Virginia House of Burgess Boycotts slave trade
The British Slave trade is boycotted in response to the Townshend Act. Soon after Georgia and the Carolina's follow. The Townshend acts had placed duties on consumer goods as a way to raise money for the British military presence in the colonies. The Boycott of the slave trade by Virginia was an act of rebellion against Britain and was in no way related to fair treatment of the black slaves. -
First Abolition Society
First Abolition Society founded in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
When the first battles of Revolution started Black minute men participated in the battles. At first George Washington Bans blacks from joining the army, but a year later he reverses his original ruling. -
Northwest Ordinance
The Northwest Ordinance divided the land into triangular plots ready to be sold by the government. Each township was about six square miles and could have up to 60,000 settlers. One plot of land was considered 640 acres. Townships were separated by gridlines.
Slavery was prohibited above the Ohio river. It forbid slavery except as a punishment in the northwest territory. The territory included states such as Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Michigan, and Wisconsin. -
The "Three Fifths" Clause
U.S. Constitution is officially adopted during this same year, it includes a fugitive slave clause. Each slave is 3/5th of a person for the purpose of congressional representation and tax appointment. The 3/5th compromise allowed for southern slave owner states to increase their numbers in the house of representatives and improved the chances of a win in the election as it affectedly increased the number of electoral college votes for these states and helped Thomas Jefferson win in the 1800's.