Notes

1. The terrible transformation was when African American citizens who were born were instantly put into lifelong servitude. It was essentially the realization that their children would be born into slavery.
2. The African tribesmen were hunted and abducted by fellow Africans for the slave trade. The middle passage was the transport of slaves across the Atlantic, this journey could be upwards of 3 months. The conditions during this voyage were horrible, slaves were packed like cargo between desks and treated worse than cattle.
3. Lack of enough water and rampant disease among the Africans led to the captain's decision to throw many of them overboard. 132 people were murdered on the ship.
4. More than 2 million slaves were in the US by 1830
a. The slaves were worth over 1 billion dollars
b. 25% of white southerners owned slaves
c. Seven states seceded after the election of Lincoln
d. 617,000 Americans died in the Civil War.
5. The weeping time was the largest sale of humans in American history. During the two-day sale, there was lots of rain, leading to the name.
6. Slaves were considered property because they were black and subhuman. This was enforced through lots of violence.’
1619- At Jamestown Virginia, around 20 Africans were sold into slavery.
1662- A hereditary slavery law is implemented, children born into slavery are given slave status.
1793-Eli Whitney patents the cotton gin, leading to cotton production being far more profitable. The values of slaves increase.
1820- The Missouri Compromise forbids slavery in the Louisiana territory north of Missouri’s southern border. Maine is admitted as a free state, and Missouri as a slave state.
1831-Nat Turner is an enslaved Baptist who believes he is divinely inspired. He starts a violent rebellion that killed at least 57 whites.
1850- The compromise of 1850 allows California into the unions as a free state. The slave states of New Mexico and Utah are to be decided by popular sovereignty. The slave trade is banned in D.C
1857- The US Supreme court ruling denies citizenship to all slaves, ex-slaves, and descendants of slave. Congress is denied prohibiting slavery in territories.
1865- The thirteenth amendment prohibits slavery across the country

7. Nat Turner was an African born slave who grew up on a plantation. He was often though of as a prophet by fellow slaves. He soon began to get divine visions and launched a rebellion with his fellow slaves after interpreting solar phenomena as ‘signs’. This 40-man rebellion killed 60 white people and nearly as many slaves.
8.
a. African Spirituality-Brass Fist Charm
b. Christianity- Cross
c. Voodoo-Sacrificed Calf Skeleton
9.
a. William Graves: William graves was a slave who had the job of brewing coffee for his masters each morning. Patty, a fellow slave, became jealous of how William was treated and began slipping medicine into the coffee at every opportunity. William was beaten every time this happened.
Outcome: William was beaten every time, and eventually abandoned his position and began to work in the field. He was invited back but refused due to the torment patty could cause him.

Charles Ball: Ball escaped to freedom but was kidnapped and put to work on a planation in Georgia. The plantations owner was the brother of Ball’s former mistress. He assumed his new master had taken him lawfully, but later discovered that is former mistress had remarried and moved to Louisiana 15 years ago. He realised that his master had no lawful claim on him.
Outcome: Ball decided to take the case to court, where he was given an unfair trial and had his only witness refuse to be examined. Ball’s owner claimed he was rightfully purchased, even though this was false. Ball lost and was ordered to return to the plantation.

Josiah Henson: Josiah’s mother and father worked on the same planation. Josiah’s mother was currently hired out from her master and was viciously attacked by a white overseer at the planation she was working on. Josiah’s father was enraged by this!
Outcome: Josiah’s father knew of the illegality but attacked the overseer. Due to this act, he had his right ear removed and was given 100 lashes.

10. I made it north and now have a chance for a better life. Some of the hazards were white people, starvation, and lack of shelter.