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Period: to
1700 to 1812
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Virginia Slaves Code
The Virginia Slave Codes of 1705 were laws enacted by Virginia's House of Burgesses regulating activities between slaves and citizens of Virginia. It regulates that servants are only that until a certain age if they are Christians, and if not they will remain slaves. Beverly, Robert. “Of the Servants and Slaves in Virginia,” The History and Present State of Virginia, 1705 (first ed.). Retrieved from nationalhumanitiescenter.org/.../power/text8/BeverlyServSlaves.pdf. -
Code Noir
This code was put in place to control relations between slaves and colonists in Louisiana. Prior to Louisiana’s slave code, the French had passed similar rules in 1685 for the French Caribbean colonies. These were adapted and adopted by the colonists in Louisiana in 1724 and remained in effect for approximately 80 years. Fazende, Bruslé, Perry, March, 1724 retrieved from http://www.blackpast.org/primary/louisianas-code-noir-1724 -
Stono Rebellion
It gets it’s name from where it took place in history. Near the banks of the Stono River in South Carolina, a group of approximately 20 men planned their escape to freedom. The slave owners searched for them, engaged in a fight with them, and it ended in death on both sides. The result was harsher rules being imposed on the slaves in South Carolina. The Library of Congress, Stono's Rebellion, retrieved from http://www.americaslibrary.gov/jb/colonial/jb_colonial_stono_1.html -
New York Conspiracy Trails
A series of fires began in New York. The fires were a mystery until an African American was accused of being seen fleeing the scene. After questioning people, the conclusion was this was a plot by slaves to kill their masters, leading to the execution of over two dozen slaves, beating fifty more, and another seventy were shipped overseas. Doolen, Andy. The New York Conspiracy Trials of 1741. American Literary History 16.3 (2004) 377-406. Retrieved from https://muse.jhu.edu/article/170397/pdf -
American Revolution
During the American Revolution, 10-20 thousand slaves were freed. The British needed man power in order to win the fight against the militias and recruited them in exchange for freedom. Fighting for the British was the only way to gain freedom, as the Patriots were not offering such a deal. Instead, they recruited the help of the Indian population. This was one of the early turning points for the African American race. OpenStax and OpenStax College History, U.S. History, Chapter 6 -
New York Frees Slaves
In 1799, New York passed a law that would gradually lead to the abolition of slavery in its state. The law was written so the children of current slaves would work for the mother’s master as an indentured servant. Adult slaves were to remain slaves but the children would be free. This was a movement in the direction to slowly changing from a culture of slavery to one of freedom. The History of Slavery in New York. Retrieved from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_slavery_in_New_York -
Louisiana Purchase
The United States, under the direction of Thomas Jefferson, purchased the Louisiana territory from France in 1803. This was not good news for the slaves in the Americas as this new acquisition of land would mean the white colonists would need slaves much more, and many feared it would be a step backwards in the fight for freedom. OpenStax and OpenStax College History, U.S. History, Chapter 8 -
United States Bans Slave Trade
The law set forth by US Congress in 1807 that abolished importing slaves from Africa went into effect on January 1, 1808. This did not abolish slavery in the Americas, it only prevented any new slaves from importation. A decrease in tobacco prices, would then cause farmers to switch to wheat crops, decreasing the demand for slaves, as wheat required less labor. Some slaves were freed, but most sold to other farmers within the US. OpenStax and OpenStax College History, U.S. History, Chapter 12 -
War of 1812
The War of 1812 was in some ways a repeat of the American Revolution. Enslaved African Americans were promised freedom for their service, but all too often that was not the case. Free African Americans served to increase social status and wealth in pursuit of greater equality, but this did not happen either. Smith, Gene A., Uncertain Americans: The slippery status of African American soldiers and civilians. (2015). Retrieved from https://www.nps.gov/articles/uncertain-americans.htm
