Transcript How Free Were Blacks in The United States OF America?

Blacks in The United
States Of America
Why are Blacks Slaves?
• People from England made money selling blacks from Africa.
• Blacks were different from white people so they MUST be inferior,
not humans.
• Africans were easy to capture and taken away from Africa.
• Southern plantations needed people to pick the crops, they had free
labor for many years.
• Africans were thought of as property not humans, that made owning
them, buying them and selling them easy.
• Africans could not speak English and did not have “civil” behavior,
this added to the belief that they were animals.
• White people ALL believed the same in regards to the Africans.
Whites taught the belief to their children in every generation.
• It wasn’t until blacks learned to speak English and have interactions
with white people that feelings began to change.
• The change was SLOW!!!
Freedom Land
• Freedomland is what
slaves in the South
called the North.
• North was also called
the Union during the
Civil War.
• Freedoms but with
limits. Blacks lived a
better life in the North
but still not like white
men.
North Vs. South
10% Free vs. 90% Slaves
• Some freedom to travel.
• Could own homes, land or
business
• Could read or write, even
publish a magazine
• Few blacks owned slaves
• Many blacks were born free
• Land owners could vote
• Could be on a jury
• Could go to church
• Education did not mean a
good job, whites would not
work with blacks
• Blacks considered inferior
• Limited movement on
Plantation.
• Their body was owned by
another person.
• Were not allowed to learn
reading or writing. Some could
not write their own name.
• Brought from Africa and sold
• No rights at all – no court just
whipped or beaten to death
• Not allowed to attend church
• Survival depended on working
in the fields
• Slaves considered animals
Civil War
1861- 1865
• 11 southern states wanted to
keep slavery legal
• Southern States were called
the Confederate States of
America.
• In 1862 Lincoln’s
Emancipation Proclamation
made freeing slaves in the
south a goal of the war.
• Slavery was not the real
reason for the Civil War – it
became the focus after the war
began.
What is Aboltotion?
How was it used to stop slavery?
• Abolition - getting rid of; to do
away with
• Efforts by people who wanted
slavery to end are called
Abolitionists.
• What they did:
– Sent petitions to congress,
– Held meetings
– Boycotted products
– Printed mountains of
material
– Gave speeches
– Some violence.
Who were key Abolitionists?
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Sojourner Truth
Harriet Tubman
Susan B. Anthony
William Lloyd
Garrison
• Fredrick Douglass
• Prince Hall
• Too name but a few…
Sojourner Truth- Helped the Union, campaigned
for land for former slaves.
Harriet Tubman – Nicknamed Moses,
she escorted over 200 slaves to
freedom. Part of the Freedom Train
Susan B. Anthony- Collected petitions opposing
Slavery also unified African American and
Women’s Rights movements. Friend of
Fredrick Douglass.
William Lloyd Garrison – Publisher
of an anti-salve paper called the
Liberator
Fredrick Douglass – He was a slave, ran away,
learned to read, write and speak eloquently,
Wrote a Book called Narrative of the Life of
Fredrick Douglass, an American Slave .
Prince Hall – Organized free blacks,
started the first Masonic Lodge, helped
end slave trade in Massachusetts.
So when did blacks really become
free?
• Good question! It has been over 100 years
since the Civil War - Some people believe
blacks are still not treated as equals.
• And…Some people believe that blacks
have all the rights they deserve.
• The U.S. was a country facing much
unrest. The 1960’s was a time of chaos
and freedoms never seen before.
1954 Brown vs. Board of Education- declared black
children will attend a white only school.
Civil Rights Act of 1964 –
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Made it illegal to ban people from
public places or jobs due to race
or color.
Such as theaters, stores, hotels,
etc.
President John F. Kennedy
proposed the Act and sent it to
Congress. He was assassinated
before it passed.
President Johnson fought to have
it passed when he became
president after Kennedy.
The passage of Civil Rights gave
free blacks more rights but it was
not easy for them to actually carry
those rights out.
Voting Rights Act of 1965
• President Johnson signed into law
• Prohibits states from putting prerequisites on voting, can not deny
any citizen voting based on race or color
• Southern states were requiring literacy tests before a person could
vote.
• Martin Luther King was a big force behind this Act.
• Once again white people blocked the way for blacks to vote.
• It was dangerous for blacks to go to the polls in the south.
A New Century (2000) Brings…
• Right to marry who you
want is questioned.
• Women still don’t get
equal pay for equal work
• Hate crimes are still
committed
• Racial profiling still
happening.
So what has changed for
Blacks in America?
• We have come a LONG way since Slavery
in the United States – Blacks are indeed
FREE. Actually every person of race and
color have the same rights the United
States.
• BUT…. Not everyone is being treated
EQUAL, so what happens now?
• What is your definition or belief of
Freedom, equality and/or rights?