Class Discussion for September 13, 2012

     In our last class session, we began discussing the onslaught of slave rebellions that took place in the years prior to the Civil War.  Upon looking at these various instances, a common theme begins to emerge: in the cases of Gabriel Prosser, Denmark Vesey, and Nat Turner, a plot in which to overthrow the white oppressors is quickly extinguished before the plan can be carried out.  Ironically, all of these men had religious sentiments and revolutionary ideals.  The idea of being sacrificed or "crucified" for one's beliefs and the value of a revolutionary rhetoric all resonated with these men.  In terms of a religious standpoint, the story of the Exodus out of Egypt served as a deep connection among many in the African American community during this period.  Slaves, under the yoke of white oppression, saw themselves as the Israelites, or God's chosen people.  In contrast, the white slave holders were the Egyptians keeping them in bondage. 

     In the 1830s and the 1840s, an expansion of the rhetoric of equality began to develop across America.  With the election of President Andrew Jackson in 1828, this notion of equality strengthened, and the idea of the "common man" became an important symbol by a nationalistic standpoint.  In reality, this notion of equality and equal rights was severely limited, and was restricted based on race and gender.  During this time, the rights for the black population of the United States, in particular those in the deep South, became more and more marginalized within society.  Although the Atlantic slave trade ended in 1808, the institution of slavery grew and became more profitable as more states entered the Union.  Within this domestic slave trade, over one million slaves were bought and sold.  The domestic slave trade also brought greater economic value to the slave industry.  For example, a young, fit field hand cost around $500 in 1800.  By 1837, the price of a healthy worker cost around $1200.  The areas that profited most during this time were the states found in the cotton belt of America: Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, Georgia, east Texas, and the Florida panhandle.  All the while, Africans Americans were subject to a government constantly reaffirming the institution of slavery.  For example, the 1857 decision in the case of Dred Scott deemed that African Americans did not have American citizenship.  As Chief Justice Taney stated, "Blacks have no rights which a white man is bound to respect."  Not only was the government reaffirming slavery, but also infringing on the personal liberty laws of many "free" states in the North.  This infringement of state's rights for the benefit of slave holding states became an important fuse in the start of the Civil War. 

     Predominately, the focus of this class session was on the beginning of black nationalism.  To overcome this feeling of inferiority, a convention movement began to arise in the late 1830s.  Two of the predominate themes of these movements were the topics of national identity and racial ideology: How should the black population perceive race?  As Mallory pointed out in her report on the book The Radical and the Republican: Frederick Douglass, Abraham Lincoln, and the triumph of antislavery politics, the key to a sense of black nationalism lay in the ability of African Americans to construct their own freedom.  This nationalism could be achieved in a variety of different ways.  As a nation, we are a mix of various cultures.  One way of constructing nationalism could be through hearkening back to one's roots.  During the onset of the Civil War, slaves also had the opportunity to drastically change the outcome of the war in favor of the Union.  As thousands of slaves willingly went toward Union lines, they were actively fighting for their freedom.  By joining the army, many black communities believed the war could end the institution of slavery in the United States, and destroy the barriers of difference in terms of racial inferiority.  The movement of blacks making their way into Union lines also drastically impacted the view of slavery on the minds of white Northern soldiers.  Having seen the horror of slavery up close in the Southern states, the policy towards allowing slaves to fight began to change.

    Overall, this class helped to construct a rounder, multi-dimensional persona of the people we are discussing.  I certainly believe that one of the main goals of this class is to realize the humanity of the people we are discussing.  Because of little circumstantial evidence from that period, it is difficult to understand the thinking of a 19th century African American.  However, evidence, such as the friendship and views on war between Frederick Douglass and Abraham Lincoln found in James Oakes' book, helps us to understand the thinking and natural tendencies of the black population during this time.