How slaves live and escape

During the colonial period in North America, the sale and slavery of African slaves constituted an important part of primitive accumulation of capital. The direct cause of the development of black slavery in North American colonies is that the colonies urgently need a lot of labor. From 1686 to 1786, about 250,000 African blacks were trafficked to British North American colonies. The position of black slaves in the North American colonies was extremely miserable, especially those who worked in the fields all day, and were regarded as "farm money" and forced to work 18- 19 hours every day. After the founding of the United States of America, a federal constitution was formulated. But the Constitution preserved slavery and maintained the slave trade. By 1860, the number of black slaves in the United States had reached 4 million. /kloc-in the first half of the 0/9th century, the American people launched an extensive anti-slavery movement. Abolitionism has been popular in America since 1930s. Garrison and Bernard, abolitionists, once edited and published the weekly Liberator, announcing that they would "fight for the immediate liberation of our enslaved people". Garrison founded the New England Anti-Slavery Association and led the establishment of a national anti-slavery organization-the American Anti-Slavery Association. By the 1940s, there were 2,000 abolitionist groups, forming a massive mass movement. Although the reactionary forces suppressed and persecuted in many ways, abolitionists persisted in carrying out various activities. They published books, newspapers, distributed leaflets, publicized speeches everywhere, accused slave owners of crimes, and exposed and criticized the evils of slavery. Abolitionists also organized the "underground railway" to guide and assist a large number of black slaves to escape from the south through secret routes and accommodation stations in a hidden way. Tubman, the heroine who was born as a slave girl, risked her life to sneak back to the south alone 19 times, helping hundreds of slaves escape from the south and gain freedom. This activity of organizing slaves to escape shook the foundation of slavery to some extent. In the 1940s, some abolitionists began to advocate political struggle. Douglas, Tapan brothers and others organized and established the Liberal Party to promote the abolition of power. Some people strongly advocate armed struggle, but Garrison and others insist on only moral preaching and oppose the organization of abolitionist political parties and armed struggle. Although there are differences in the means of struggle, the whole abolitionist movement has made progress on different roads. 1852, Mrs. Stowe's novel Uncle Tom's Cabin was published, which vividly described and exposed the tragic life of black slaves, aroused strong repercussions in society and effectively promoted the development of the abolitionist movement. 1859, abolitionist john brown led the 2 1 white and black uprising, which pushed the abolitionist movement to a climax. 186 1 year, the American civil war broke out. 1862, American President Lincoln released The Emancipation Proclamation, announcing the freedom of black slaves, which fundamentally disintegrated the fighting capacity of southern rebel states and turned the tide. 1865 65438+ 10, the us congress passed the amendment to article 13 of the constitution, stipulating that slavery or forced slavery shall not exist in the territory and jurisdiction of the United States. 1865 18 February 18, the amendment to article 13 of the Constitution came into effect, and slavery was abolished in the United States.

Slavery is a special social and economic system. Its existence runs counter to the development of American history and greatly hinders the development of American economy. Once slavery was shattered, the American economy developed rapidly after the Civil War. The total industrial output 1870 ranks fourth in the world, and 1894 ranks first in the world.

When people first come into contact with the founding history of the United States, there is always some confusion: who led the United States to win the war of independence? Washington has more than 300 slaves; Jefferson, the author of the Declaration of Independence who called for human equality and freedom of religious belief all his life, led a group of slaves to Washington, DC, and became the first owner of the White House.

A symbol of independence, democracy and freedom, a national hero and a slave owner. It is difficult for modern people to put these two fundamentally conflicting images together to form a three-dimensional figure. However, every image of them is real.

1, the origin of slavery in the United States

16 19, a Dutchman transported twenty blacks to the United States for auction. These twenty blacks became the first black slaves. Before that, there was a kind of "indentured servant", which was a tradition spread from Europe to the colonies. Unable to repay the debt, he had to sign a contract with the creditor: the boy was incompetent, had no money to pay the debt, was willing to work to make up for it, and was sent away for several years. -People who betray themselves are usually white. It is conceivable that creditors are usually very harsh on indentured slaves, increasing labor intensity and working hours in order to recover debts in the shortest time. There are also indentured slaves who can't stand it and break the contract and run away. The colonial government also helped catch them, punished them with whips and extended the term of the slave workers.

The appearance of black slave labor added a new color to the colony. In order to distinguish the original "contract slave labor", a new term "involuntary slave labor" is created-a legal vocabulary slightly better than "slave". Slaves are born involuntarily. They are often tied into a string by wooden shackles and ropes and taken to ships in Shanghai and transported to auction houses in the United States. How much they are worth is up to the buyers and sellers, and they have no chance to count the money they spend on prostitution. One more thing, their slave labor period is life.

Slaves came from Africa, and the most famous ports in West Africa were called "Gold Coast" and "C? te d 'Ivoire". In the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, there was another name called "Slave Coast". At that time, wars were frequent among small African kingdoms, and women and children of captured and conquered tribes were the source of slaves. When the supply of goods is tight, the king will even choose some people he doesn't like from his servants to make up the top number.

The Portuguese first engaged in this kind of human trafficking industry, and later spread to Spain, the Netherlands, France, Britain and so on. For more than two centuries, nearly10 million people have been trafficked to countries along the coast of America and the Caribbean. The business of human trafficking has become the largest overseas migration activity in human history.

Slave traders also have their own opinions: large-scale slave trade promoted the development of African civilization. Since then, African countries have stopped killing prisoners; Before that, it was very common for prisoners to be executed. What's more, the prisoners were given to soldiers to roast and eat.

Black people can endure heat and humidity and are not easy to get sick. They are the favorite of plantation owners in the southern United States. In the early days of the founding of the United States, there were 2 million black slaves in the southern States of the United States (13.5 million in 860). They have become an important labor force in planting industry. Black slaves are part of the private property of plantation owners and can be inherited and bought and sold. Can be used as a dowry for the planter's daughter.

2. Racism deepened the darkness of slavery.

The abuse of indentured slave workers-that is the abuse of whites, and people will also show concern and compassion. However, people have no right to speak about the abuse of black slaves, because white racism was widespread in society at that time.

Thomas Jefferson wrote an article about blacks in his early years, which is academic. It describes them like this: blacks can withstand hard work that consumes physical strength, and their physical strength will recover as long as they are given a little entertainment and a short rest; Black people do things without great plans, are irrational and reckless, dare to take risks without being brave, and are at a loss when the real crisis comes-here he describes black people as slave materials with developed limbs, simple minds, late intellectual development and poor psychological quality, which naturally requires the supervision of white people. Even Jefferson, the pioneer of thought, looked at blacks in this way. We can imagine the social discrimination against blacks at that time. This kind of discrimination adds rationality to the existence of slavery and dilutes or even erases the evil of slave owners' mistreatment of slaves. The fate of slaves depends entirely on their masters. With a kind-hearted master, life can get by; With a grumpy master, slaves will only suffer. According to records, some slave owners cut off their slaves' feet as punishment for escaping and killed chickens as a warning to monkeys-threatening the rest of the slaves.

In the early days of slavery, some manor owners strictly isolated male and female slaves and prohibited them from having sexual relations. Because once a female slave is pregnant, it is better to buy a slave in the market to delay the cost of working hours. Later, it was criticized by public opinion as violating nature, forcing the manor owner to change this practice and finally giving the slaves the right to marry.

Slaves did not have the right to vote until 1878, when the American election law was slightly adjusted and the southern States allocated seats in the House of Representatives. Every five slaves count as three people, which is included in the consideration of seat allocation. In other words, in states with many slaves, the right to speak of slave owners is relatively large.

Slavery alone is considered evil, but when racism and slavery are mixed, people become numb. Racism increases the adhesion of decadent slavery and makes it firmly attached to colonial society. More than a hundred years later, when the United States was founded, it had become a stubborn social filth.

3. From slave owners to abolitionism.

Washington lived in the age of slavery. 1 1 years old, my father died. He inherited 500 acres of plantations and 10 slaves, and soon became a clever young slave owner. By the time he got married at the age of 27, he had 36 slaves and his wife.

Brought 20 slaves as dowry. Together, Washington is the great slave owner of Mount Vernon.

The strong desire of the colonists to get rid of British exploitation and control produced an exciting declaration of independence. "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, and that they were terminated by their creator with some impossible rights" has become a creed encouraging people to resist Britain. But why doesn't this belief that all men are created equal apply to blacks?

Morality is torturing conscience.

When Washington was the commander in chief, he felt that the new American spirit was incompatible with the existing slavery. What happened in front of him often made him feel uneasy-some black soldiers died heroically and were still enslaved, and they were not rewarded and commemorated as they deserved.

On a cold night, Primus, a black servant in the army, gave Washington his blanket and straw, and he was frozen quietly. Washington woke up in the middle of the night and was very moved. He said it was unfair and ordered his servant to sleep next to him. At this time, the idea of ending slavery in Washington came into being.

Washington suggested that all blacks who participated in the War of Independence should be granted the status of free men, but the bill was blocked in Congress. The voice against the emancipation of slaves is quite strong. It was not until Washington died that he released all the slaves in the form of a will. And for slaves who have lost their labor force, they provide food and clothing for the elderly and opportunities for minors to study and receive education. Washington's will had a great influence on American society.

Jefferson, like Washington, said on different occasions that slavery was evil. But he took another road, from easy to difficult, and gradually weakened the power of slave owners by legislative means to avoid the division of the new United States caused by drastic changes.

During Jefferson's administration, the legislation promoted included: announcing the abolition of the slave market and prohibiting the import of slaves; Declare the northern States as free States and prohibit the existence of slaves in the northern States; After the age of 25, children born to female slaves automatically became free men, abolishing the system of slave families being slaves for generations.

Jefferson was not as generous as Washington. Before he died, he only released a close slave, and this slave was also his secret love. One explanation for Jefferson's failure to release the other 65,438+0,765,438+0 slaves is that the new law stipulates that to release a slave, the slave must be provided with living allowance for more than half a year. After Jefferson's death, he still owed a lot of money and couldn't afford to set the slaves free.

4. Emancipate slaves

In the process of fighting for their own democracy and freedom, white Americans gradually noticed the living conditions of black people around them. The call for the abolition of slaves is getting louder and louder. /kloc-In the 1950s, people who advocated the abolition of slavery organized the "underground railway".

Railroad), using "conductor" and "station" to help slaves escape. The "conductor" is responsible for providing escape routes and leading the way for slaves, while the "station" is a secret hiding place and provides food. Slaves can escape from one station to another. Slaves at that time were free as soon as they crossed the Ohio River. On this side of the river is the "slave state" of Maryland, and on the other side of the river is the free state of Pennsylvania.

The southern states oppressed the Congress and passed the "fugitive slave law", demanding that the states be allowed to pursue fugitive slaves across the border. The northern states are tit-for-tat, and have passed "personal freedom laws" (Vermont, Connecticut, Rhode Island, Massachusetts, Michigan, Maine, Kansas and Wisconsin), and made a series of strict regulations on pursuers from the perspective of protecting the rights of free people, making it almost impossible to track fugitive slaves across borders. Wisconsin even more bluntly accused the fugitive slave law of being unconstitutional and threatened to sue the federal government.

The church also participated in the rehearsal of this "civil war". Christian Baptists are divided into North and South factions. Pastors in the north got the just principle of abolishing slavery from the spirit of fraternity of Christ. Pastors in the south used Christ in the Bible to teach that "slaves should be kind to their slaves and slaves should be loyal to their masters."

Prove that God allows slavery to exist. It seems that God has become two hostile gods, North and South.

Southern States feel that their interests and private property are not protected by the federal government, so they have the intention to leave the Federation. When they declared independence, the civil war broke out inevitably.

Lincoln, another great president in American history, solved the problems left by Washington and Jefferson by force. 1863, the United States announced the abolition of slavery and the liberation of slaves. The scale deposited in history was finally removed.

Once, people told Lincoln that the civil war caused many cruel bloodshed, and Lincoln hesitated and said, "Let's make it our compensation for the black people!" " "

Since then, the declaration of independence "All men are created equal" has a real meaning.

Step 5 ask and answer questions

Is American freedom and democracy true?

Since the founding of the People's Republic of China, every inch of American freedom and democracy has been true. It is not only accumulated by raising the awareness of national democracy bit by bit, but also exchanged with national blood at critical times. In the early days of the People's Republic of China, the concept of freedom and democracy was limited. It began with the struggle for freedom and democracy in white society, and finally extended to other races. Black people are the last to taste the fruits of freedom and democracy.

Are former slave owners Washington and Jefferson worthy of admiration?

When they can't choose for themselves, history gives them the status of slave owners; When they were free to choose, they chose the position of abolishing slavery. Because of this, they should be respected by people.

It is another historical figure who should be cursed. When they can't choose for themselves, history gives them the status of civilians; When they have the right to make a choice, they forget that they used to be civilians and choose to play the role of slave owners and dictators.