Death Or Liberty: African Americans And Revolutionary America

Name Tutor Course Date Death or Liberty: African Americans and Revolutionary America Egerton, in the first chapter, captures slavery in the British Atlantic Empire, where Equiano’s life through slavery has illustrated the difficulties that slaves faced. Survival of African Americans in 1763 was based on lies. For instance, in several instances, Equiano lies to avoid working in the fields and to even secure baptism. It is depicted that perhaps the lies had become part of him as a manner of keeping his soul and body together and even when free, he saw no need to speak the truth (Egerton 16). Equiano’s life through slavery symbolizes the slave life that Africans and African Americans went through in various locations, including the New England, Canada, and Rhodes Island. Even though a Black Code, a document that contained policies that governed the relationship between slaves and masters, had been drafted, masters still had absolute control over the slaves (Egerton 18). Slave residences were either in or near urban centers where they were disproportionately owned by families that were wealthy. In various locations, they were subjected to various tasks with some working in the field whereas others worked in households. Occasions that would guarantee small amounts of liberty for slaves were rare and any attempts to weaken the supremacy of the masters over their slaves were a disappointment to the masters (Egerton 25). However, the changing attitudes of the society towards bondage changed the harshness of the Black Code that had granted masters absolute powers. In Philadelphia, the sin of slavery began spreading in the 1730s. Christianity is also postulated to have improved the slavery bondage; an aspect that masters also got worried about. In 1940, a rebellious group of slaves had revised a body of law that was termed as “Negro Act’’. Even though some aspects of rebellion had started, the chapter explores the vast challenges that slaves were subjected to in the British Colony. The slave labor was meant to enrich white masters. In chapter two, the author explores slavery and the emergence of revolution. While Equiano’s adventure highlighted slavery life, the chapter captures Richard as a symbol of hope and fulfillment of the black American’s dreams during the early years of the revolution (Egerton 41). A voice that sought for justice was on the rise amidst patrols that were meant to halt the same. Gatherings by Africans with an objective of raising concerns about liberty was in close relation to the address of slavery that appeared in the Virginia Gazette, penned by Arthur Lee in early 1967 (Egerton 48). The concerns were objective at the declaration of freedom and the birth of rights for every human kind irrespective of race. Majority of the slaves are reported to have quit working on plantations and whenever attempts to restore order were made, the rebels took refuge in barns. A battle that resulted in killings of some slaves and others getting wounded began as the whites wanted to gain control over the slaves. Also, to serve as lessons for others, some slaved were chopped off their heads (Egerton 50). An open discussion forum by slaves regarding freedom was triggered by the court rulings in James Somerset case. As the case ruling spread from ships to alleys, slaves had open discussions regarding the prospects of freedom. The ruling also raised lots of concerns for masters since the rebellion against the payment of taxes by individuals such as Samuel Martin had started. Africans in Chesapeake and Maryland had joined the moves to condemn human trafficking by 1771. In some other places such as Pennsylvania, there were no direct moves to kill the trade, but higher taxes were imposed to discourage human trafficking. In 1776, the ruling by the Continental Congress that slaves could not be imported in certain states also contributed to the pursuit of liberty. The various petitions such as those of Holbrook helped the slaves gain stronger languages and grounds; an aspect that greatly contributed to the beginning of the revolution. The third chapter explores black combatants and the war. James Madison had once mocked the possibility of the slaves in Virginia are postulated to have had the capability of electing a black officer to conduct them in the presence of English troops. However, he was confident that in case of disagreements between America and Britain, insurrection among the slaves was likely to be promoted. There were also worries that the British are likely to trigger a rebellion of slaves against the American masters; an aspect that subjects Dunmore into lots of thinking and seeking of support from Dartmouth (Egerton 69). His intentions were to obtain arms so as to gain control of the colony. According to Dunmore, branded as the king of the blacks, Negroes had sent a camp at Norfolk that acted as a threat. There was tension among slaveholders as most of them vowed to get to the woods. However, the efforts by Dunmore faced challenges when he was captured and kept under strong guard, resulting in his camp suffering from little food while the inflow of refugees increased. Rebellious blacks were, however convinced to take up arms against their masters. Few survivors from Dunmore camp left for New York with an objective of spreading information about freedom. The aspect of freeing some slaves while holding others in captive and giving arms to slaves became a concern. Efforts by Henry Laurens to materialize his black project faced resistance from Washington. In 1981, Dunmore emerges more strongly to use the black troop as the real revolution for the American people was linked to the black people (Egerton 92). Chapter four highlights the desire of Quok to get freed from slavery whenever he grew into adulthood. James Caldwell, a husband to Isabell Caldwell and the owner of Quok’s parent’s as slaves, had agreed to free him at the age of twenty-five; a figure that Isabell reduced to twenty one when his husband died. However, when Isabell got married again, things changed. Isabell’s new husband desired to keep Quok as his own slave; a decision that Quok dismisses at the age of twenty-eight. He would later be subjected to torture by Isabella’s new husband, but flees to a seaport with hopes of finding new life (Egerton 94). Through the courts of law, Quok and other black Americans had hopes that his case would prove to be an important aspect of the revolution, but it turned out that support from certain legal minds was necessary. Failure to win the struggle proved how deep racism and slavery was still a concern. However, the little achievements were perceived as the beginning of a new dawn in terms of revolution. An antislavery act in the Up...