Slavery: The Backbone of British Empire in America - Essay Sample

Introduction

Slavery was the backbone of the British Empire in Northern America. Every colony was sustained by slave labor in plantations. Slavery was adopted as a thought and culture, giving the colonists a supreme status in society (Rosenbloom, 2018). Slavery was subjected mainly to black Americans, thereby providing the whites with racial connections as well as identity. Initially, Europeans practiced bonded labor plus indigenous slavery. Due to the immigration of Africans to America, African Americans replaced Indians in plantations. In the Caribbean Islands, indigenous populations were eliminated by disease and wars, making the Europeans obtain Africans as slaves (White et al., 2012). In plantations, crops such as sugar and rice were grown for consumption and importation. Due to the high demand for labor in the plantations, Europeans outsourced slaves from Western and Central Africa to ensure a steady production of cash crops.

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In the Chesapeake region (Virginia and Maryland), the agricultural system concentrated on tobacco, cotton as well as indigo (White et al., 2012). Due to low prices for the products, cheap labor was required. Slaves were acquired through the Atlantic slave trade. Wealthy owners owned slaves and subjected them to hard and cheap labor, while they reaped the benefits of slave labor. Since small plantations owners could not afford to purchase slaves, there was the development of class divisions in the colony. In the rice kingdom, that is, South Carolina, rice was the main cash crop. The plantations relied on African's expertise to guarantee a steady supply of the crop. Africans used dikes and rice fields to plant and sweet-grass baskets to mill paddy rice. The innovations increased rice production. Africans were, therefore, valued for their expertise. As such, Joshua Ward obtained 1,130 African slaves, making him the biggest slave owner in the colonies (Rosenbloom, 2018).

How would you assess African American gains and losses during the American Revolution? How did African Americans' participation on both sides of the war change its course?

My assessment of the advantages and disadvantages of African Americans in the American Revolution would be in terms of freedom from slavery, participation in the wars, and loss of lives. Lord Dunmore declared that any slave who will join the army to fight for the British was to be free from slavery (White et al., 2012). Many Africans signed up and led attacks on Americans' plantations. As a result of the declaration, the policy banning Africans from joining the military was lifted. Several blacks joined the military to fight, gain skills and knowledge to enhance their quest for absolute freedom. Slavery was weakened through the reduction of the number of slaves. Some slaves fled to Canada and Florida for their safety and freedom. Since the American Revolution fought for freedom plus liberty, slave owners began experiencing resistance from slaves who began seeking their freedom from hard labor (Pingeon, 2005). However, many Africans lost their lives in war and as casualties of war. The war began the liberation movement among the Africans.

According to Pingeon (2005), the course of the war changed to ensure that Britain had enough work force to participate in the war. They, thus, turned to Africans who were ready to escape from their masters because of hard and cheap labor African Americans participated in both sides of war depending on the side that favored their interests. However, their action did not go well with the revolutionaries and the colonialists. The war changed its course when slaves' owners went against the colonial governor's authority to recruit slaves to join the army. Slaves' owners began persecuting slaves' families. As a result, slaves began revolting against the colonialists. In unity, African Americans and revolutionists joined their effort to fight against the colonialists, who had no choice but to declare independence to the slaves.

How did the actions of Denmark Vesey, Nat Turner, David Walker, the Amistad, and the Creole insurrection resonate throughout the country?

Denmark disagreed with the teachings that slaves should obey their masters. He and his colleagues planned a revolt to start their quest for freedom from slavery. They designed the most successful slave revolt in American history. Since they were highly respected by the blacks, they easily influenced the slaves to join the revolt. More than nine thousand black slaves were expected to join the revolt. They planned to stage a massive execution of the white men whom they met along their way and torch Charleston (James, 2012). However, some black Americans betrayed Denmark and colleagues to their masters on their plans to stage a revolt. The news spread like bushfire among the slave owners who became disappointed by the plot of trusted black people who had earned their freedom. The administrators were angry of the act because they were renitent and had ordered the slave owners to treat slaves with respect despite owning them. Nat Turner began a rebellion in Virginia, putting slave owners under panic. He was determined to begin abolishment of the slave system in Southampton County. Turner's efforts were successful by destroying plantations and killing more than fifty settlers (James, 2012). Through the support of slaves, they managed to destroy acres of land and property

Denmark and colleagues were captured and charged with an insurrection plot and conspiracy to commit murder. They were convicted and hanged. The ones who betrayed them were released since they did not collaborate with the plotters (James, 2012). However, those who betrayed the black Americans did not live long to enjoy their freedom. They suffered from mental illness and died miserably. After the action, the black community suffered terribly. They received more oppression from their masters, their church was set on fire, and they were excluded from all national celebrations. Denmark was considered a hero in the black community. He inspired many blacks to participate in wars such as the Civil and abolitionist wars.

What impact did the Dred Scott decision have on the African Americans in 1850? How did black northerners respond? What impact did this event have on the struggle for freedom in the south?

After the Dred Scott decision was made, Africans stopped enjoyed their freedom from slavery. After 1820, slavery was abolished, and Free states and territories were established. However, the ruling stated that Africans were not entitled to citizenship in the U.S., and the declaration of their freedom was unconstitutional. Africans were angry with the decision, which fuelled their participation in the Civil War (Oswald, 2018).

The media from the North heated with debate on the decision questioning the integrity of the government in fulfilling their promise to abolish the slave trade. The Northerners viewed the decision as a declaration of war among black Americans who were enjoying their freedom for the first time (Oswald, 2018). Many articles were published to express their opposition citing the Supreme Court as the core conspirator to restore the institution of slavery. The act was out of political corruption from the whites seeking to further their domination against black Americans. Dred's decision awakened the conscience of the people to express their views until their freedom was granted frequently. The slavery propagandist movement was established as the beginning of a long-awaited revolution to stop slavery in America. The call for action was, therefore, instituted the call for action through the famous Chicago Daily Tribune.

The decision was applauded in the South as a justification to continue the institution of slavery in America. The slavery question was answered through the court, and no slave was to go against the court ruling. It was seen as a victory to slaveholders who were disturbed by abolitionists from the blacks. To the Southerners, the tension between the North and the South ceased to exist (White et al., 2012). However, the abolitionists refused to give up their quest for freedom. They accepted the ruling and saw it as an impulse to their movement. They became more united and strengthened its organization to appeal to Dred's ruling. Their activities were informed by the Northerners, who were resisting the decision.

Discuss the rich culture of West Africa prior to the Slave Trade. How did the slave trade systematically destroy the social identity of African people?

Before slave trade, West Africa was ruled by powerful kingdoms; they had beautiful sculpture, developed a complex trading system which gained them enormous wealth, invested in education, and valued the family structure (Igboin, 2011). They were at the pinnacle of African Civilization during the period of exploration. It was referred to as the Dark Continent by the Europeans due to their deep-rooted culture that was protected by the rulers. The university at Timbuktu provided intellectual knowledge to the people in the region. Agriculture was their main source of livelihood. Hunting, gathering, and fishing were among the main components of their heritage. Trade was ongoing with other African communities where items such as ivory and gold were used as means of exchange. West Africa was rich in minerals such as copper, salt, gold, and diamonds (White et al., 2012). As such, many merchants obtained trading goods, opening their market for other communities to purchase them through barter trade. Religion was at the heart of the communities. West African art was religious-based, and every community had trained artisans who were producing skilled works to appease tribal gods during sacrifices. The center of the entire rich heritage was the family (Igboin, 2011). Africans valued families through the ancestors. A family was a unit sharing a common ancestor. Therefore, families were extended and had more than a hundred members. Family heritage was traced along the father's bloodline, but some clans used the mother's bloodline. The ruling was democratic and comprised of ruling by a noble class. Therefore, West African heritage granted them a long history of peace and prosperity, which was destroyed by the coming of the Europeans.

Slave trade destroyed the identity of Africans through the destruction of their economy and well established social structures. Gold trade had deep roots in Africa, but the Europeans abolished it. Through raiding and kidnapping, merchants were forced to abandon the mining and transportation of trading goods (Igboin, 2011). Europeans came to Africa to outsource manpower to work in their colonies oversees. As such, the slave trade became more profitable than the gold trade. Raids and kidnappings increased, making Africans fight against themselves. The once peaceful continent turned into chaos, breaking the peaceful links among communities. African merchants were replaced by European traders who controlled and dominated trade in Africa. Europeans aimed at making Africans rely on their skills. As such, they established cash crops through big plantations and made Africans work for them as slaves (White et al., 2012). African identity through their heritage was lost. They could not trade, cultivate their lands, develop their own technology, or manufacture their own goods. They relied entirely on Europeans.

References

Alix, Oswald (2018). The Reaction to the Dred Scott Decision. Chapmand University, 3(1): 169-198

Benson, Igboin (2011). Colonialism and African cultural values. African Journal of History and Culture, 3(6): 96-103. Retrieved on May 6, 2020 from https://academicjournals.org/journal/AJHC/article-full-text-pdf/8DCB1CE40953

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