History Slavery North Atlantic British Colonies United Essay

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history slavery North Atlantic British colonies United States

Observations Regarding Slavery

One of the primary methods of resistance for people of African descent who existed in servitude in the North Atlantic British colonies and in the United States was rebellion. Although far from occurring frequently, armed, violent revolt from chattel slaves helped to shape the history of their descendants in these locations. One of the most notorious of these uprisings was known as the Southampton Insurrection led by Nat Turner in Virginia's Southampton County in August of 1831. The effect of Turner's armed insurrection, and those of others in the Southern United States and in other North Atlantic British colonies can be evidenced in the amended legislature which ultimately influenced the future and perception of both slaves and former slaves for several years to come.

Turner's 1831 rebellion was just the latest in the lengthy list of historical uprisings slaves of African descent faced in the Northern hemisphere. Turner's insurgency was most recently preceded by slave uprisings in Haiti, which were taken note of and feared throughout the continental United States. These rebellions occurred around the time many capitalists (particularly those located in Southern states) deemed slavery an essential component of the U.S. economy's vitality. This decision was largely based upon the sudden, surging popularity for cotton and its heavy reliance upon slave labor for both its cultivation and sale. Subsequently, the high value of slavery due to its economic feasibility played an important role in the response to an American nation virtually dependant upon slavery for pecuniary success in the early to mid 19th century.

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In the case of Turner's insurrection, the response from law makers, slave owners, and freed Whites was predictably harsh on a number of fronts, both in a physical, corporal sense as well as in ensuing litigation which would mandate the behavior of both slaves and freedmen of African descent. Turner and his legions (which were thought to number approximately 70 men including both freedmen and slaves) succeeded in killing roughly 60 whites during a period of multiple days. Turner's death toll was the highest of that of slave rebellions in the U.S. At its time, and was naturally terrifying for the capitalist exploiters of the Southern-based slave economy. Consequently, the level of retaliation was more than equal to the level of force and aggression displayed by Turner and his followers, as Virginia militia and three companies of artillery defeated the insurgents within days of their revolt.

One of the immediate effects of this show of force was the fact that the killing of slaves and freedmen of African descent did not end with the cessation of the rebellion and its participants. In fact, the revolt was used as a launching point to further discipline, circumscribe, and ultimately control the behavior of these people......

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