Slavery

Approximately 6,000 slaves were present in Southampton County, Virginia, during the early 19th century. This number constituted a significant portion of the county's population at that time and played a central role in the local economy, primarily in the cultivation of cotton and tobacco.

Popular sovereignty is the practice of allowing each territory to decide for itself whether or not to allow slavery, and it means that the people have the power in a democracy to make political decisions through voting or other forms of participation.

The Fugitive Slave Act required the return of escaped slaves to their owners, increasing tensions as many in the North opposed the practice of slavery. It also empowered slave catchers to capture fugitive slaves in free states, leading to backlash from abolitionists and free-state residents who resisted enforcement of the law. This deepened the divide between the North and South over the issue of slavery and states' rights.

David Wilmot wanted slavery prohibited in territories acquired from Mexico in order to prevent the spread of slavery into new territories, as he believed that allowing slavery to expand would only further entrench the institution in the United States. This proposal, known as the Wilmot Proviso, aimed to preserve the western territories for free labor and was part of the broader political debates surrounding the expansion of slavery in the mid-19th century.

Runaway slaves received help from abolitionists, free Black communities, and Native American tribes who provided shelter, food, and guidance along the Underground Railroad. Some sympathetic individuals would hide or transport escaped slaves to freedom, often at great risk to themselves. Additionally, churches and secret societies like the Quakers and the Masons played a role in supporting runaway slaves on their journey to freedom.

1. Levi Coffin was a prominent figure in the Underground Railroad, helping over 3,000 fugitive slaves escape to freedom.
2. He was known as the "President of the Underground Railroad" for his dedication to aiding escaped slaves.
3. Coffin's home in Indiana was considered the Grand Central Station of the Underground Railroad, offering refuge and assistance to many escaping slaves.

The Southern states in the United States wanted slaves to count in their total population for representation in Congress. This led to the Three-Fifths Compromise in the Constitution, where slaves were counted as three-fifths of a person for the purpose of determining representation in the House of Representatives.

The law requiring citizens to help catch runaway enslaved people was the Fugitive Slave Act of 1850. It allowed for the capture and return of escaped slaves even in free states, supporting the institution of slavery by compelling individuals in free states to assist in the capture and return of escaped slaves.

1. "Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass" by Frederick Douglass provides a first-hand account of the harsh realities of slavery in the United States.
2. "Beloved" by Toni Morrison is a novel that explores the lasting impact of slavery on individuals and families.

Many enslaved people cope with the miserable conditions they faced by keeping family traditions alive.

The abolitionist movement gained momentum in the 1830s, with organizations like the American Anti-Slavery Society formed to work towards the end of slavery. The publication of anti-slavery literature, such as "The Liberator" by William Lloyd Garrison, also played a significant role in raising awareness and promoting the cause.

The North wanted more leniency and protection for fugitive slaves, while the South wanted stricter enforcement and harsher penalties for those helping slaves escape. The Fugitive Slave Act of 1850 was part of the Compromise of 1850 in an attempt to address the growing tensions over slavery in the United States.

Georgia allowed slaves because plantation owners relied on slave labor for their agricultural economy, particularly in the production of cotton. Slavery was deeply ingrained in the society and economy of the Southern states, including Georgia, and it was legally permitted in order to maintain the profitability of plantations and the wealth of slave owners.

The settling of the southern colonies in America increased the demand for labor in industries such as agriculture, which led to an increase in the transatlantic slave trade to meet this demand. Slaves were brought from Africa to work on plantations and farms in the southern colonies, leading to the growth of the slave trade in the region.

The colony that made slavery illegal but eventually allowed it was Georgia. Slavery was prohibited in Georgia at its founding in 1733, but the ban was lifted in 1749 due to economic pressures and demands for labor.

The duration of enslavement varied depending on the circumstances. Slaves could be owned for a lifetime, inherited as property, or sold to other owners. Some slaves could gain freedom through manumission, escape, or emancipation efforts like abolition movements or legislative acts.

The Fugitive Slave Act was a part of the Compromise of 1850, which aimed to address issues surrounding slavery. It required the return of escaped slaves to their owners, regardless of where they were found in the United States, and imposed penalties on those who helped fugitive slaves escape.

The invention of the cotton gin made it easier and faster to process cotton, leading to increased demand for cotton production. This demand resulted in the expansion of cotton plantations, which in turn increased the need for labor, leading to the use of more enslaved people to work on the plantations to meet the growing demand for cotton.

One of the findings of the Supreme Court in the Dred Scott decision was that slaves were considered property, not citizens.

They became free.

The Dred Scott case addressed the issue of whether enslaved individuals were considered US citizens and had the right to sue in federal courts. It also tackled the question of whether the federal government had the authority to regulate slavery in the territories. Ultimately, the Supreme Court's ruling in this case further entrenched the institution of slavery in the United States.

The act gave the men hunting for escaped slaves the means to go into the states and bring a slave back. They didn't even have to prove that who they brought back was an escaped slave, so they did capture free African Americans.

The slave trade resulted in the government playing a role in regulating and overseeing the buying, selling, and owning of slaves. It also led to the government implementing and enforcing laws to protect the interests of slave owners. This further entrenched power dynamics and control over marginalized populations.

Women are often involved in informal trade due to limited access to formal employment opportunities, lack of education and training, and cultural norms that prioritize their role as caregivers. Informal trade can provide them with flexibility in terms of working hours and location, as well as a way to support their families economically.

Indentured servitude was a form of labor system where individuals would agree to work for a certain number of years in exchange for passage to a new country or other benefits. It was commonly used in the Americas during the 17th and 18th centuries.