Reflection on Unit 3

After the Civil War there was a period of time where the once divided nation worked on reunifying themselves; this national dilemma is known as The American Reconstruction Era. There were two main vantage points that needed addressing in this period; how and if there should be punishment for the traitorous states and the status of the formally enslaved. These two pressing matters shaped the transition of the United States from reconstruction to the 20th century.

Reconstruction Phase

Chapter 11 covers the reconstruction era post civil war, Andrew Johnson became the president of the United states after Lincoln's assassination. And following the end of the war Johnson's plan for reconstruction followed closely to Lincoln's "The Ten Percent Plan." Which stated that "if just ten percent of the eligible voting public in each of the former Confederate states pledged an oath of loyalty to the Union, that state could then be readmitted back into the Union."(Oliver, "African American Experience") This plan was lenient toward the ex-confederate states and because of that all eleven of the ex-confederate states were back in the union. This was great reunification for the whites but not so much for the blacks. With the confederate states being readmitted to the union; confederate leaders who wanted to preserve slavery were elected into office and established laws that targeted black and limited the freedom they had just fought for and won. These laws were known as "black codes."

Theses laws were established to keep black people in "order" as it is "impossible to have order in a mixed community." With the many negatives that arose during the reconstruction era for the black there were some positives for instance "The freedman's bureau," which was created to provide temporary assistance to help former slaves in their transition to freedom. This bureau offered property acquisition and educational attainment.

One of the biggest failures of the reconstruction period was the failure to transform the economic fortunes of the formally enslaved. With everything the country endured during the four year war they returned and continued with their ways. Although the former slavery had ended the country would not allow slavery to die and quasi-slavery developed known as the crop lien or sharecropping system.The hopes of freedom for black all vanished as they endured the harsh reality of the reconstruction era, it was. never meant for them they were on their own.

Jim Crow Era

Chapter 12 talks about the receding of the reconstruction era and dives into the Jim crow era. The reconstruction era reconstructed all but the lives of the blacks, although freed from slavery their "free" lives was everything but what they'd hoped it would be. With the establishment of black codes the newly emancipated blacks were held under tight restriction and were convicted of crime for basically anything and from that a new form of slaver arose; "The convict leasing system." For any and every petty offense a white use could against a black, they did. This convict leasing system was the leasing of the incarcerated  to business and landowners as punishment for their crimes. Although the 13th amendment ended chattel slavery; it left a loophole that white politicians used to their advantage to keep blacks from experiencing true freedom.

The Jim crow era originated from a racist minstrel shows that depicted black-faced character portraying white folk. Following these shows were the Jim crow laws that segregated the people of the United stated by race. Railroads, theaters, restaurants, even bathrooms were segregated. Violence and racism became more prevalent within this era as whites truly could not fathom a black person being free. White supremacy was so that they used theories such as social darwinism to justify their "achievements and power."

The great migration and the first world war

Chapter 13 talks about the great migration and the great depression. With all the hardships the blacks endured in the south and the realization that the freedom they were promised was as good as dead, and the only way they would even have a slight chance at a better life was to relocate. "The Chicago Defender" was a prime convincer for the black families in the south. Chain migration were the main form of migrations being done and systems were set in place to help some of the southern migrants like settlement houses.

When war broke out in England and threatened to be global some African Americans supported the war thinking that their patriotic help and military service would prove that they belonged in the country and true citizens.Over 380,000 black men would enlist in the uniformed armed forces and the military had an enforced, strict code of racial segregation. African American were also sent overseas top Europe where they provided much support. But more than half of those who deployed were assigned to labor and stevedore battalions. These troops performed essential duties for the American Expeditionary Force, building roads, bridges and trenches in support of the front-line battles.Although treated with hostility African Americans were the backbone of support during the World War.

Fight for civil rights

After their help in the first and second world war African Americans persisted on change not only for themselves but for their children and their children's children. Many famous leader that we know today are from this period, rosa parks, Martin Luther King, Malcolm X, and many more. The fight for civil rights was more prominent than it ever was. The black community came together ti fight for what they deserved and today we can proudly live in the dream they fought for, and although not 100% perfect they are the reason we are where we are today and we as African Americans in the 21st century will continue to fight for their dream and never let the history of out ancestors suffering be forgotten.

Reflection on unit two

African American's played an important role in the American revolution. Fighting on both sides to in hopes of ensuring some sort of freedom for themselves. The revolution had a profound impact on the of status slavery. Although it did not end slavery; the slave population lessened as some used the chaos of the war to flee others were manumitted by their owners. The American Revolution gave the thirteen colonies freedom and liberty from the British government but the "freedom and liberty" did not apply to the African Americans.

 From slavery to freedom...for some

Chapter 5 discusses Slavery and African Americans post-revolutionary war. African American men were promised freedom from both opposing ends of the revolutionary war. After the war comes to end most of the African American men did not receive the freedom they were promised. But the war did have its effects; although slavery continued in the United States its status gradually diminished but not without a fight of course.

It was clear that there was a difference in slavery between the northern and southern colonies. Early during the post-revolutionary period abolition for slavery grew strong. Whether it was by gradual emancipation or immediate abolishment of the institution; slavery in the North was soon to be fully abolished before 1825. As for the south, although slavery was disrupted by the war, the white southerners would not give up slavery but strengthen the institution instead. Southern slave owners argued that if they ended slavery it would negatively impact their economy as slave labor was substantial to their economy, thus continuing slavery.

Antebellum slavery

As spoken about previously there was a divide between the north and the south. The abolishment of slavery caused a divide between the states. Chapter 6 now discussed the extent of slavery after the revolutionary war but before the civil war that was to come.Slavey not only continued in the south but slavery expanded tremendously. Factors such as the Louisiana purchase and the industrial revolution had major impact on the growth of slavery. The expansion of territory and the growing demand for cotton had direct impact on slaveries growth. Majority of the slave labor in the south was utilized in the cultivation of cotton.

Although life for the enslaved African American remained by the shackles of slaver in chapter 7 we see how life for the "free" black in the north was no better. African American in the North had the "free" title but live a restricted life. Whited limited just about everything that would allow an African American true freedom. They restricted black from jobs, housing, public transportation, public institution etc. they were segregated and faced severe racial violence.

Abolition movement

Abolition was a reform movement that aimed to end slavery in the United States. Although the end goal was the same the reasoning behind it was not. There were three types of abolitionist groups."Gradual and colonizers" were abolitionist who wanted to end slavery because they believed the land of the Americas were meant to be occupied by whites only, their goal was to rid the United states of African Americans. Then there are the anti-expansionist those who were okay with slavery existing where it already existed but were against it expanding into the new territories of the states. Lastly there were the Radical abolitionist these were people who wanted slavery to end immediately and universally. These radical abolitionist would come to play a major role in abolition movements. With their help the underground railroad helped many enslaved free themselves.

The true heart of the abolition movement were the African American themselves.David walker, Harriet Tubman a prominent figure in the events of the underground railroad, Henry Garnet an advocate for militant abolitionism, Fredrick Douglass a very influential figure in abolitionism during the 19th century. These and many more were the true to advocated that helped advance and took action to freeing themselves and many others.

War to come...

With growing abolishment movement and more revolt grew the sectional tension between the north and the south. Every political event/decision was centered around slavey and its status. with events such as the Missouri compromise, the fugitive slaves laws, Kansas-Nebraska act and more violence arose like wildfire. During this time of political instability grew a separate party, the republican party.Tension continued to grow between the North and the south over slavery, states' rights, and expansion. The election of Abraham Lincoln as the president in 1860 caused seven states in the south to secede from the union from this at this point it was clear the civil war was underway.

reflection on unit one

African American History 2091 Unit One 

Naika Belizaire

October 2022

    I registered for AMH 2091 not only to fulfill  a credit but to also learn more about the history of the African people. I learned a lot in unit one. It consisted of four chapter that chronologically teaches of the history of the African people from before they were taken captive, to their journey to the Americas, and their experience as enslaved people, and the role they played during the revolution era.

The East African Civilizations 

The Africa seen in the media today is not the Africa before European contact. In chapter one we covered the greatest civilization in Africa and their rulers. 

One of the first East African civilizations mentioned was the kingdom of Kush. Located in an area called "Nubia." Influenced by Egyptian culture; the cities in Kush were trading centers of building materials.

Another kingdom touched on was the Kingdom of Axum. This kingdom was a naval and trading power. It had a booming economy with it own currency. 

The West African Civilizations 

Of the cities in west Africa, chapter 1 covered the three greatest civilizations: Ghana, Mali , and Songhay.

Ghana emerged in 800 A.D. and was greatly known to protect the trans-Saharan trade routes. Controlling the imported and exported trade across the Sahara desert are what made Ghana wealthy. The kingdom of Ghana held stability for 800. It collapsed after a series of berber attacks on its capital in 1076 A.D.

Amidst the kingdom of Ghana's fall emerged the kingdom of Mali. Established in the year 1235 A. D. Mali is greatly known for its successful ruler. Mali's greatest ruler Mansa Musa is known to be the richest man to have ever lived.The kingdom of Mali was peaceful but fell in the 1400's A.D. by nomads and empire member rebellion.

After Mali arose the kingdom of Songhay. This kingdom officially established in 1355. And like the two before it protected the trans-Saharan trade routes. This kingdom is a kingdom that came from nothing into something under the ruler Sonni Ali. This ruler also established the kingdoms capital Timbuktu that became the center for islamic learning and trading. The Kingdom of Songhay fell under the Sultan of Morocco in 1591 A.D.

The Middle Passage 

After learning of the historic kingdom of Africa in chapter one. Chapter two them cover the enslavement of the African people which was driven by the European's ambitions and their mercantilism economic system.

Portugal was first European power to engage in African enslavement but they were not the first to attempt slavery. The Spaniards that colonized in the central America attempted to enslave the native American but it failed due to the high death of the native fro the European diseases.

The enslavement of the African people began in the 1600's. European powers relied on the labor of the enslaved to grow their newly colonized economies. As the demand for labor increased the quantity of enslaved increase and the trading of the enslaved began. Internal African enslavement increased to sell captives to the Europeans. The trans-Atlantic slave trade was on leg on the middle passage.

The transport of the enslaved captive is known as the "middle passage." Nearly 20 million African were forced on this horrific journey. Captives were tightly cramped on deck, chained with irons so that they were not able to move. Diseases arose and caused millions of death of not only captives but the crew member also. Once dead bodies were left where they were or tossed over board. The middle passage was the most tragic and horrific leg of the slave trade.

Slavery in America

Chapter three discusses the arrival and condition of the enslaved once they reached landfall.  As previously stated African enslavement was not the first form of slavery in the America's. Well after their first enslavement fail Europeans sought out a different group of agricultural laborers; indentured servants.

"indentured servants worked several years under contracts called indentures that agreed to pay for travel, room, and board in exchange for agricultural labor for a specified number of years—(typically seven)."-A long time coming Andrea L. Oliver

When African captives first arrived in the americas they began their enslavement similar to that of the indentured servants but that soon changed. The racial unity of the Africans and indentured servants resulted in the hardening of racial statuses.

When all 13 British colonies were established in the 1700 slavery was practiced in every single colony. In the New England colonies the demand for enslaved labor was not as great as the other but it still existed. The new England colonies became a place for "refuse slave." "those who were considered too old, young, or sick to be sold elsewhere in prime markets and were mostly imported from the Caribbean or the American South." The middle colonies encourage the importation of slavery. Slaves in the middle colonies tended livestock and chopping wood.Slavery in the South colonies was the worst. Plantation labor was the main labor of the enslaved and the treatment was so harsh many tried to escape.

African American during the revolution

The final chapter of unit one cover the revolution period of the American colonies and the involvement/roles of the African Americans.

In the 1800 many issues arose between the British Parliament and the American Colonies.The taxation of sugar and tea that the British Parliament implemented on the colonist was the first notable cause of outrage and this resulted in the British tea party which then resulted in another law passed by British Parliament. Fed up with the British government's control the American colonist sought independence hence the start of the revolution.

Hearing the talk to the Americans wanting freedom from under the oppression of Britain the enslaved during the era of revolution hoped that their freedom might be given also. They sought to help the side they felt would secure their freedom. Some were loyalist and other were patriots. White colonist were at first opposed to black fighting alongside them but circumstances of the what caused an immediate change of heart. The end results of the war resulted in the freedom of the American colonies from under the British government. As for the freedom of the black some were able to obtain freedom but for most their promise of freedom ware not met. The risk taken to fight for their freedom was one of many the enslaved blacks would/will take to obtain their freedom.