The Status of Free African Americans in Northern and Southern Society Flashcards Preview

HIST 300: African American History (Slavery) > The Status of Free African Americans in Northern and Southern Society > Flashcards

Flashcards in The Status of Free African Americans in Northern and Southern Society Deck (17)
Loading flashcards...
1
Q

Fugitive Slave Act of 1850

A
  • part of the compromise struck by the South + North involving slavery in the new territory the US acquired in the Mexican-American War
  • put more restrictions + punishment on slaves (especially fugitive slaves)
  • fugitive slaves can’t testify + no trial by jury + guilt is assumed + posse can be called against them
  • anyone found to be aiding fugitive slaves would be fined $100 + thrown in jail for 6 months
  • judges compensated more for ruling in favor of slave owner
  • act was retroactive (no longer mattered where/when they were a fugitive slave they could be taken back at any time)
2
Q

Effects of Fugitive Slave Act

A
  • heightens sectional tensions w/ kidnappings becoming more common among free blacks
  • many blacks begin to migrate to Canada even more
  • caused many free blacks to reexamine whether immigration was a viable alternative
  • some Northern black leaders encouraged armed resistance against new act (including Frederick Douglass)
  • gave the illusion of sectional peace (southern wishes had been granted) (would be shattered repeatedly)
  • ex = publishing of Uncle Tom’s cabin depicted a much harsher view of slavery than what Southerners generally accepted
3
Q

Free Blacks

A
  • have always been part of American society (during colonial + slave era)
  • most lived in the shadow of plantations + slavery (known to many historians as quasi free blacks (not really slaves but not free either)
  • 1826 = free blacks in Baltimore sent petition to white countrymen
  • most free blacks segregated under law (second class citizens)
  • occupied inferior status between whites + slaves
  • many struggled to earn a living + find housing + educate children + escape violence
  • presence of free blacks disturbed whites both in the North + South
  • freedom did not mean equality + equal opportunity in jobs/schools/housing
4
Q

Sources of Free blacks population

A
  • manumissions = included private manumission where owners felt oral disregard for institution of slavery
  • some masters troubled by living in society where both freedom and slavery exist
  • public manumission = legal abolition of slavery in North + freedom granted to black people who served in American Revolution
  • Southern states even liberalized slaves that fought after Revolution
  • natural increases = children born from free black parents + mulatto children from white/black women + children born from Indian black relationships
  • some slaves able to purchase freedom during Revolutionary era
  • some slaves took there masters to court to petition for freedom
  • some slaves just ran away from plantations to the North
5
Q

Whites Thoughts on Free Blacks

A
  • most Americans view free blacks negatively (strong consensus among whites in favor of white supremacy
  • free blacks seen as part of a degraded class (widespread agreement nationally that all blacks were intellectually + physically inferior - similar to Jefferson beliefs)
  • fearful of giving blacks more legal rights
  • thought blacks had much less initiative than whites
  • most whites thought these differences in blacks vs whites were permanent/would take centuries for blacks to catch up
  • miscegenation strongly frowned upon (thought it would lead to a tainting of white race)
  • most believed racial prejudice was natural + logical response to black people
  • thought a biracial egalitarian society was either completely impossible/would only be achieved in the very distant future
  • subordination of blacks was a widespread belief even among white abolitionists (just wanted to end slavery but didn’t like blacks)
  • free blacks viewed as social danger (menace to society) (responsible for most of the crime + disorder in American society)
  • even abolitionists felt that blacks were “degraded + vicious”
  • served as arguments against large scale emancipation of blacks
  • white Northerners afraid mass emancipation would lead to mass migration of blacks to North (take away jobs) (become a depraved population)
  • Federal Census (1840) - falsely revealed free blacks had much higher rate of insanity than slaves (10x higher) (swayed some public opinions)
  • gave credence + comfort + cause for their mistreatment of free black population
  • strain of true freedom “too much for blacks to handle”
  • stupid belief that free black men are a danger to white women (danger of miscegenation - even though most miscegenation came from white masters raping slave women)
6
Q

Sambo

A

Uncle Tom

  • southerners buy into this image b/c they want this image of slavery to be portrayed to the world as a positive
7
Q

Mulattos in Lousiana

A
  • many came over from West Indies as mulatto children
  • highly privileged class
  • largest black slave owners in US were in LA
  • see themselves as intermediate class between blacks + whites
  • educated + speak French/English/Spanish fluently
  • many able to pass for white
  • since they arrive before Americans able to settle LA, they’re able to form free black militias (called upon multiple times to defend LA from Indians + European adversaries)
  • b/c they’re able to form free black militias they even have the authority to punish white men
8
Q

Free Black Pop.

A
  • MA + VA had largest free black populations
9
Q

Free Blacks in the South

A
  • most of them stayed in the South (family + familiarity + most are unskilled so can’t get jobs in the North)
  • most Southern free blacks lived + worked on the margins of Southern economy (faced restrictions + competition from white/slave workers)
  • most were pushed into poverty (small % made comfortable living)
  • most lived in countryside as farmers
  • 1860 = 75% of all NC blacks lived as farm hands
  • black landowners typically owned subsistence farms (could not compete w/ large white landowners)
  • some blacks in South worked in urban areas as railroad workers
  • free black women also worked in the field + as domestic workers (similar jobs they worked as slaves)
  • very few free black women worked as skilled workers (most skilled free black women worked as bath workers)
  • those free blacks that lived in coastal areas worked as fishermen + whalers (Paul Cuffey) + as stewards on ships
  • urban free blacks had greater freedom + higher wages
  • in some cities 50% of adult free black males worked in factories (metal + tobacco + paper mill)
  • some cities free black artisans dominated skilled trades (Charleston, SC free blacks dominate millright trade + almost half of all tailors in SC)
  • elite black artisans socialized w/ one another w/ their children attending the same schools + attending the same churches (made up the elite of black society)
  • elite black societies segregated by skin color
  • free blacks in Lower South better off than Upper South (had more entrenched positions)
  • free blacks in SC/GA/LA had closer ties to upper class whites (would protect you from unfair competitions + were patrons of free black businesses)
  • manumissions in Lower South were more selective (meant masters more invested in success of former slaves)
  • most free blacks in South worked in poorly paid positions
  • some had contracts w/ whites to provide services for food + clothing + nominal wages (some could last decades) (many ended up in debt peonage)
  • some blacks forced back into temporary slavery since they were unable to pay fines + taxes + jail terms
  • apprenticeship laws worked to detriment of many free blacks (very cheap form of labor in Southern states)
  • whites used apprenticeship laws to get blacks + whites + women + children to work for cheap
  • some southern states removed provisions allowing free blacks to read + write
  • black children generally apprenticed to the most menial of positions (picking tobacco/cotton etc.
  • immigration of Irish/Germans into Southern states into 1830s hurt economic position of free blacks (now even more competition)
  • whites found it more preferable to hire white immigrants than free blacks (whites slowly replacing blacks in certain industries like heavy manual labor)
  • certain jobs in Southern cities become synonymous for free blacks (most important was barber trade)
  • some of wealthiest free blacks in South were black barbers (not physically demanding + paid well especially if one’s clients were white + didn’t take a lot of capital to own a barber shop)
  • the most successful free blacks earned a living serving white clients exclusively (didn’t mix clientele)
  • William Johnson (black barber) in Naches, MS - freed by petition of owner - mulatto - disassociated himself from most free blacks in city unless they were of same class
  • Johnson - opened barber shop + very successful/respected in white community - ended up buying property + slaves
  • Northern free blacks consistently competed against poor white immigrants (specifically Irish) (fewer immigrants in the South so an advantage)
10
Q

Free Black Housing

A
  • had some of worst housing in country
  • most in countryside usually squatted on shacks on small plots of land no one wanted
  • others built isolated shacks tucked away from main road
  • by 1830 at least 25% of free blacks in VA lived w/ white employers (common in the South)
  • quite common in South for white employers to house black field hands + black slaves
  • a disadvantage of living w/ whites is less autonomy
  • sometimes free blacks would form small villages
  • SC required all free blacks to pay capitation tax (essentially a poll tax) (used as an incentive for free blacks to work)
  • faced residential segregation in the North (no so much in South)
  • segregation + economic exploitation in North would be the foundation of the future black ghetto (blacks excluded from white neighborhoods well into 20th century)
  • Some of these like Little Africa in Cincinatti + Nigger Hill in Boston
  • housing situation may be a big reason why free blacks in South didn’t move North
  • were the targets of a lot of violence from white immigrants in the North
  • Alley Housing = common in both North + South (cheapest housing available in the city + in proximity to major employment centers for unskilled workers) (most residents uneducated + unskilled) (even if skilled unhighly they could compete)
  • Alley Housing = essentially mini ghettos (generally concentrated in oldest sectors of the city) (overwhelmingly segregated by race)
11
Q

Free Black Health

A
  • had higher mortality rate than whites (2-3x)
  • died of diseases like pneumonia + tuberculosis + malnutrition
  • normally had a very unhealthy diet
  • epidemics took serious toll on free blacks (suffer disproportionately in both the North + South)
  • housing of Southern free blacks also poor but no black ghettos in South (blacks scattered throughout Southern cities + lived often w/ white employers)
  • lived near railroads + rivers (areas that were loud + dirty + dangerous)
  • residential segregation increasing by the Civil War in the South
12
Q

Free Black Families

A
  • most were two parent families despite poverty
  • free black families were headed more by women than white families mainly due to the poverty but not much different than numbers seen in white families
  • more black women worked outside of the home then white women
  • free black families more likely to take in lodgers/relatives in order to help pull resources to pay bills
13
Q

Education

A
  • free blacks place their faith in changing their status through education
  • view education as a means towards upward mobility
  • way to improve their status not only in their own eyes but in the eyes of whites
  • free black leaders thought obtaining an education would maybe convince whites they should be given right to vote (wouldn’t happen)
  • thought education would elevate their character + enhance their image
  • free black leaders felt education would make differences in skin color irrelevant
  • education + literacy the exception for blacks before Civil War
  • most educated blacks had only a primary school education
  • Puritans + Quakers took particular interest in the education of free blacks (specifically teaching them how to read the Bible)
  • manumission socieites helped establish black schools (African Schools) across the North (schools that white philanthropists would donate to to educate blacks)
  • black Church also took interest in education especially Methodists (set specific educational guidelines for its ministers)
  • black Churches educated blacks mostly through Sunday Schools
  • black churches would publish own newspapers like Christian Recorder
  • free blacks more likely to obtain an education in the North (specifically New England than the South (fewer restrictive laws + more schools + more money being put into their school)
  • elite blacks sent children to private schools and tutors at homes
14
Q

Black Higher Education

A
  • attempts for many blacks to enter higher education before Civil War was in vain (most not allowed to attend college in either North/South
  • very few states provided public funds for blacks schools
  • in instances where schools were established for black children even in the North they often met difficulty (ex: RI Quaker school was burned to the ground)

-

15
Q

James McCune Smith

A

Prominent 19th century physician

  • born a slave but freed at the age of 14
  • fortunate enough to attend one of handful of free black schools in New York
  • rejected from dozens of medical schools after undergrad (accepted to University of Glasgow in Scotland)
  • lives in Scotland for 5 years where he gets 3 degrees
  • was first university trained black physician in America
  • establishes practice in New York + becomes involved in advancement of free blacks/slaves
  • wrote widely in anti-slavery newspapers + part of several anti slavery orgs.
  • huge advocate of moral reform (certain characteristics needed for black people to advance, specifically education)
  • One of the earliest proponents of industrial education (joined w/ Frederick Douglass to establish a black industrial college -would never work)
  • Smith believed blacks should receive both a liberal arts education + learn a trade (always give you the opportunity to be self reliant)
  • strong proponent of race pride (preached race unity + self respect
  • opposed colonization (saw it as devious scheme to rid US of blacks)
  • shining example of black achievement
16
Q

Martin Delaney

A
  • would become foremost spokesperson for black emigration
  • born of free mother + slave father
  • moved to Pittsburgh in 19 to continue education under black minister
  • after 5 years with minister he decided he wanted to study medicine (accepted to Harvard)
  • white Harvard students try to terminate his education (succeed in getting faculty to kick him out)
  • causes Delaney to become more militant + to devote more time to anti-slavery/immigration
  • believes heavily in self sufficiency
  • thought blacks must engage in a variety of economic opportunities for them to be respected by whites (must make a mark in their profession)
  • organizes several national emigration conventions
  • set up Niger Valley Exploring Company to find suitable place for blacks to settle in Africa (most blacks not interested)
  • would later go on to become highest ranking black soldier in the Civil War attaining the rank of major and became an active recruiter of black soldiers
17
Q

Free Black Institutions

A
  • black elites = generally men (work in formal institutions w/in black community)
  • churches + literary socieities + women socieities + schools
  • Negro Convention Movement (1830-61) = was series of conventions where free black leaders would come together to debate + come up w/ strategies about abolition (all conventions held in North)
  • Black Church = leading black institution (assisted blacks in gaining the right to vote + equal employment opportunities + right to an education + right to being considered a human being)
  • church = where blacks developed leadership skills + engage in economic cooperation + where they could educate themselves + where they could gain fellowship/status/recognition w/ one another
  • church - would be most dynamic/cohesive/effective of free black institutions
  • free black church - united blacks from all classes
  • blacks weren’t welcome in many white churches in both North/South (so made their own separate churches)

North = Richard Allen

  • born a slave + would join the Methodist Society at 17
  • permitted to purchase freedom during American Revolution
  • returned to Philly where joined white congregation of leading white church + eventually licensed to preach
  • only permitted to hold services before the regular services arrived (congregation gained in size - disturbed white methodist)
  • Allen would stage a walkout after mistreatment from white trustees + purchase lot of land to build own church known as African Methodist Episcopal Church (AME) (known as Mother Bethel)
  • becomes first black bishop in the US
  • Mother Bethel would become independent organization away from white Methodists (autonomy of black church is very important to black community - can make its own choices)
  • Mother Bethel was a waystation for the underground railroad + collected money for anti-slavery activities
  • Baptist church would eventually overtake Methodists

South = free blacks faced way greater opposition in way of establishing church

  • faced violence + formal legislative restrictions
  • Southern lawmakers feared the establishment of a black church w/o white supervision (especially true after slave revolt)
  • by late 1820s some Southern states prohibited meeting of black churches + banned black ministers from the pulpit (caused many black ministers to leave the South + church membership in South to dec.
  • majority of black churches not abolished in South + continued to organize own congregations
  • attempts to control black preachers typically failed (they could meet in secret in people’s houses -didn’t need formal building)
  • whites began withdrawing from mixed congregations as black membership began inc. in 1830s
  • Southern black churches largely confined to cities + more prominent in Upper South than Lower South
  • Southern black churches also provided insurance + death benefits + organized community recreation/entertainment + aided poor in the community through missionary activity + strengthened black families by focusing on the sanctity of marriage
  • black elites typically went to mixed churches + did not attend church w/ former slaves + many attended Catholic church especially in mulatto communities like New Orleans