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.