Journey through Slavery part 3 - Brotherly Love

Journey through Slavery part 3 - Brotherly Love 

Journey through Slavery part 3 covered the obstacles that Africans and African Americans underwent during the late 18^th century as well as the 19^th century. The age of Enlightenment was introduced during this time and it basically gave people faith that the human race could be improved or even perfected. I personally agree with the historians that express the idea that slavery was a contradiction to this crucial time in history. The American Revolution (1763-1787) was a time during which Americans yearned and fought for their liberty from British rule. When the revolutionary war ended in 1787, Britain no longer had control over America, Americans were free. However, 19.3% of the American population was African American with a total of 757,208. There were 697, 681 slaves with a total of 92% of slaves.

Thomas Jefferson

On September 29, 1789 George Washington which then held presidency elected Thomas Jefferson as the first Secretary of State. At that time Jefferson was Minister to France. He was well-known as the author of the Declaration of Independence and gained fame by laying the foundation of the American democracy. During the revolutionary war Jefferson stated and claimed, "ALL MEN ARE CREATED EQUAL". He believed that it was invalid/immoral for one man to own another as property. Despite his words and beliefs, Jefferson himself owned approximately 130 slaves. His excuse was that blacks were naturally inferior to whites and that is why it was his duty to stand on their side and protect them. Because they were like children, they could not protect themselves. I believe that even though Jefferson owned slaves his excuse might have been justifiable if thinking from a historical point of view. Additionally, he was one of the first to write about the idea that blacks and whites could not live together in equality. He even warned that slavery could result in rebellions.

Banjamin Rush

Richard Allen was born into Slavery on February 14, 1790, in Delaware. Luckily for him, he successfully bought his freedom. As a free black man, Allen dram of founding his own church. He wanted to prove that despite their color and the segregation they underwent, blacks had the capability of succeeding just like the whites. In 1794 he was able to found the African Methodist Episcopal Church and is now known as a minister, educator and writer. Not only were blacks able to prove themselves as capable to succeed thanks to individuals such as Richard Allen but also during the Yellow fever epidemic of 1973. Sanitation was so horrible that the death rates increased dramatically. Benjamin Rush, a significant physician and signer of the Declaration of Independence was known as a friend of the Blacks. He contributed in helping Allen found his church. During the epidemic he introduced the idea that blacks were immune to the fever which is when they
came to be handy to the whites. They cared for and nursed the ill; however, in the end the plague ended up killing off both the white and black population.

PRIMARY SOURCES:
Testimonies from three of Jefferson's slaves.
1. http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/jefferson/cron/1873march.html
2. http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/jefferson/cron/1873israel.html
3. http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/jefferson/slaves/memoir.html