Resistance and Cooperation
argumentative Essay
1582 words
According to Distinguished University Professor and American Historian, Ira Berlin the United States “condoned slavery without the ‘peculiar institution,’ which was long central to the economic, political and cultural life of the nation.” Berlin goes on to state that current racial issues remains a “pervasive problem” within American life, as portrayed in the media, television, film, museums and monuments that are historic representation of American Slavery. One of Ira Berlin’s most notable works, Generations of Captivity: A History of African-American Slaves critically analyzes five chronologically overlapping sets of “generations.” The Charter Generation (early 17th century to early 18th century), Plantation Generation (late 17th to early 19th century), Migration Generation (1810-1861) and Freedom Generation (1861). Since “A single shot is insufficient to depict slavery”, using Ira Berlin’s “generations” model will best convey how slaves used various forms resistance and cooperation to repel, control and shape the harsh realities of slave life in the American South. (CN-Web1) The use of resistance and cooperation by slaves could be divided into two distinct categories: “Forms of resistance that rejected the institution of slavery (i.e. rebellions, running away) or forms within the institution (i.e. everyday life forms).” (CN-web) Ways slaves rejected the institution within was through cultural aspects such as religion, slowing work in the fields, faking illness, breaking tools, sabotaging production among others. In cooperation with the runway slaves free blacks and “sympathetic whites” challenged the institution of slavery through providing “safe houses”. (CN-web) Most notable, the Underground Railroad, a chain of safe h... ... middle of paper ... ...merican Civil War, tensions strengthen between black slaves in the south and pro-slavery advocates. Another rebellion was in the works by a black slave from Southampton County, Va named Nat Turner. It is considered to be the “most remarkable incident of Black resistance to slavery in the antebellum South.” (hiddenhistoryofslaveresis) Nat Turner Rebellion was inspired by Turner’s personal account of envisioning a Black man hand “reaching over the sun” during a solar eclipse on February 12, 1831. (CN-Hidden) He had several similar accounts of this throughout the rest of the year and the rebellion was planned for August 21st. In the end, the rebellion last for two days and over 50 whites were killed. (guide3) Lastly, the Freedom Generation took place after the American Civil War ended at which slaves had the “task of redefining freedom for themselves.” (9/14)
In this essay, the author
- States that ira berlin's generations of captivity: a history of african-american slaves critically analyzes five chronologically overlapping sets of "generations."
- Analyzes how ira berlin's "generations" model will convey how slaves used various forms of resistance and cooperation to repel, control and shape the harsh realities of slave life in the american south.
- Explains how slaves rejected the institution of slavery through cultural aspects such as religion, slowing work in the fields, faking illness, breaking tools, and sabotaging production.
- Explains that during the charter generation, the relationship between slavery and religion was at upmost importance in slaves lives. slaves were baptized and given christian names.
- Explains that slaves and whites during the early charter generation were considered "indentured servants" rather than "slaves for life."
- Explains that the charter generation brought about changes in the way whites viewed blacks as equal towards end of the 17th century, due to the emergence of rice, tobacco and sugar plantations.
- Explains that the stono rebellion was the earliest rebellion against the institution of slavery in south carolina.
- Quotes james h. sweet, a national humanities center fellow at the university of wisconsin-madison, who states that the haitian revolution in 1791 was effective in overthrowing slavery in the americas.
- Explains that the plantation generation introduced a new set of challenges of black slaves in the south due to increased demand for rice, tobacco, sugar and cotton in north america.
- Explains that slavery was such a "big business" in the american south that publications were created to help plantation owners create more efficient slave environments.
- Explains that the second great awakening produced a mixture of black pastoral and 'african and american' religion. the charter generation used religion to blend into mainstream society and establish their freedom.
- Compares the religious experiences in the free and slave communities of the north and south.
- Explains that during the revolutionary generation blacks began to identify themselves as "african" rather than a "specific tribe" or group.
- Describes the migration generation, where 4 million slaves were emancipated from bondage, but 1 million were sold to cotton and sugar plantation in the southern interior. the nat turner rebellion was inspired by turner's personal account of envisioning a black man reaching over the sun.
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- Analyzes how w.e.b dubois' work, the souls of black folk, described the constant struggles for life of african american's in america. he wanted blacks to work hard to become active parts of american society.
- Explains that jacobs, harriet, incidents in the life of a slave girl, edited by jean fagan yellin.
- Analyzes how the powerful ideal of freedom developed in harriet jacobs' incidents in the life of a slave girl, blood-burning moon, and w.e.b dubois' the souls of black folk slaves played an overwhelming role throughout the history of the united states.
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- Explains that john brown met with frederick douglass in 1847 and defined his strategy to lead a war to free slaves. in 1849, brown settled his family in north elba, new york.
- States that the fugitive slave act of 1851 allowed the capture and return of runaway slaves that were in the territory of the united states.
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- Narrates how john brown was hanged on the second of december 1859. the constitution abolishes slavery in the thirteenth amendment in 1856
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- Explains that slavery in the middle of the eighteenth century bore a closer resemblance to plantation colonies.
- Analyzes how berlin defines the connection between northern and southern methods of economic and governing decisions to deny human rights to slaves, since they were increasingly being deemed as "property".
- Analyzes how berlin's slave history provides a detailed and well-documented understanding of the cultural aspects of slave life over the long course of colonial and post-colonial history.
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- Opines that when reading about the institution of slavery in the united states, it is easy to focus on life for the slaves on the plantations. walter johnson, of soul by soul, tells a different narrative.
- Analyzes how johnson introduces a new perspective on slavery through historical documents and transcriptions of personal accounts.
- Explains that johnson is a winthrop professor of history and specializes in african and african american studies. the book soul by soul won the thomas j. wilson prize.
- Analyzes how soul by soul is written in an objective style, as uses copious quotes from his historical sources to tell the story rather than inserting his own opinions.
- Recommends soul by soul to anyone interested in learning more about the economy of the domestic slave trade in the united states.
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In this essay, the author
- Explains that the abolishment of slavery was a significant turning point in world history. david brion davis, c.l.r. james, and orlando patterson share similar and differing viewpoints for why slavery needed to be discontinued.
- Explains that david brion davis is well-known for his studies into the history and philosophy of slavery.
- Analyzes how cyril lionel robert james' writings, the black jacobins and the haitian revolution, changed the landscape of world history.
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- Compares the views of david brion davis, c.l.r. james, and orlando patterson, stating that it is important to have a multitude of historians.
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- Explains that slavery existed in a broad variety of forms throughout the world since ancient times. as slavery declined in europe bondage continued to prosper in africa.
- Explains that the abolitionist movement was sparked by riots, revolts and rebellions. in 1676 eight men fought with nathaniel bacon in a failed attempt to overthrow virginia’s slaveholding land gentry.
- Explains that slaveholders exercised economic power due to staple crops and cotton, while early antislavery whites were members of the society of friends.
- Explains how the french revolution and the black revolution in haiti ended successfully in 1804 and profoundly influenced the path of american abolitionism.
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- Explains how the second great awakening helped inspire the abolitionist movement. the bible, black churches, and associations inspired slave revolutionaries in the north and south.
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In this essay, the author
- Explains that the formal abolition of slavery, on the 6th of december 1865 freed black americans from their slave labour, but they were still unequal to and discriminated by white americans for the next century.
- Analyzes how the lack of a home, monetary funds, and widespread government support meant that many slaves continued to live in poverty and could have been better off had they been left in bondage.
- Explains that the negative attitudes towards black americans, influenced by racism, wealth, violence, and white supremacy, ensured that black inequality would remain.
- Explains that the 13th ammendement (prohibits slavery and involuntary servitude) was adopted on the 19th of december 1865.
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In this essay, the author
- Analyzes how david roediger's book seizing freedom reminds us of what we have missed in our prominent and scholarly accounts of emancipation.
- Analyzes how david roediger argues that slavery impacted the war but not the ideas and actions of ex slaves that gave birth to a revolution.
- Analyzes how david roediger's book made it difficult to give up slavery due to economic and political reasons. the book emphasizes lincoln and the republican party as agents of emancipation.
- Explains that public education according to du bois was a "negro idea" and that chiwetel ejiofor was betrayed by some white men in hopes of finding employment and sold into slavery.
- Explains that most films on slavery focuses on the brutality the white men inflicted upon slaves but fails to highlight the role they also played in the freedom of the slave.
- Analyzes how david ends the book by explaining how the fighting and movements by the women and african-americans came crumbling down.
1080 wordsRead More - should the confederacy won the civil war?analytical essay(1) Schwartz, David G. “The South and Slavery” History 101. University of Nevada Las Vegas. March 30, 2004
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- Analyzes the economics, politics, and battle plans of the american civil war. slaves produced many good and services that were provided to the benefit of most white americans.
- Analyzes how the development of a leisure class also developed the social upper classes of the old south.
- Analyzes how the confederacy went from poor policy decision making to the point that seemed determined to make the worst possible decisions.
- Describes schwartz, david g., "the south and slavery" history 101, university of nevada las vegas.
1407 wordsRead More