African Americans before Civil War
By 1850, the population of the United States had grown to just over 23 million. This figure included 3.6 million African Americans. The great majority of African Americans lived in slavery. Not all African Americans were slaves. By mid-century, there were about half a million free blacks as well. Many were former slaves who had escaped to freedom. Whether African Americans lived in slavery or freedom, racism shaped their lives. Everywhere, whites looked down on blacks. Whites ignored the great contributions blacks made to American life.
Compare the effects of POLITICAL, ECONOMIC, AND SOCIAL FACTORS ON SLAVES AND FREE BLACKS
- Political Factors
- Missouri Compromise – Missouri entered the Union as a slavery state and Maine entered as a free state. This Compromise also stated that north of the 36○30’ line, all states that entered the Union would be Free States. All slavery was banned.
- Compromise of 1850 – California was admitted as a free state. The slavery trade was abolished in Washington, D.C. Stronger slavery laws would be passed to help slaveholders recapture runaway enslaved people
- Economic Factors
- Southern plantation system (agriculture) – relied on slavery; enslaved people had no property and no rights
- Northern industrial economy (manufacturing) – The slave trade was abolished in the north. The North contained a high population of free African Americans. Free African Americans could own property and had some rights.
- Social Factors
- Religion drew enslaved people together among plantations. Slaves communicated through spirituals.
- Racism develops in both the North and South; however, the South perpetuates racism to a greater extent.
Analyze the IMPACT OF SLAVERY ON DIFFERENT SECTIONS OF THE UNITED STATES
Impact of slavery in the North
- By 1804 slavery had been outlawed by all states north of the Ohio River.
- Abolitionist societies, newspapers and Underground Railroad developed to advocate outlawing slavery.
- Many were ambivalent to the plight of enslaved/free African Americans
Impact of slavery in the South
- Enslaved people were viewed as property and labor supply.
- To maintain the way of life in the South, slavery was important.
- Slavery was considered a state’s right issue. Each state was given the opportunity to choose whether slavery would be allowed.
- Fugitive Slave Law allowed Southern slaveholders to capture enslaved people who had escaped to the North.
Impact of slavery in the West
- Fighting broke out in Kansas between pro-slavery and anti-slavery groups after the passage of the Kansas-Nebraska Act of 1854.
- The West was needed to maintain the balance of free versus slaver states in the Senate.