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Period: Jan 1, 1440 to
The Middle Passage
The Middle Passage was the brutal journey captured Africans endured on their way to becoming slaves. It was from Africa to America. Each captive only had 4 feet of space. Many died on the trip over or became very ill. -
Jan 1, 1550
Muslims sending slaves
Muslims sent almost 17 million slaves to the Americas from Muslim areas. They imprisoned all non Muslim Africans. Muslim rulers in Africa decided it was fine to sell black war slaves. The spread of Islam into Africa in the 17th century increased slavery. -
Spain and Portugal
By 1650, almost 300,000 Africans are laborered throughout Spanish America on plantations and gold/silver mines. -
Demand for African Slaves
By the end of the slaves trade, 9.5 million Africans were imported to the Americas. Buying and selling African slaves to America was known as the Atlantic Slave Trade. -
Sugar Act
This levied imports coming to America. This was the first time that Britain tried to raise their own revenue over expanding American trading. It also was a part of the American Revenue Act. This taxed all sugar products coming to America. The Stamp Act was repealled but the Sugar Act stayed. -
The Stamp Act
This was enforced by Britain. It was passed to increase revenue. The act put large taxes on all printed materials (papers, books, cards, etc.). Congress eventually forced Britain to undo the Stamp Act in 1766. -
Meerman Mutiny
The Meerman was taking a large sum of slaves to America. One of the captured Africans, Masavan, lead a revolt and took over the ship. He made a deal with a member of the ship's crew to be taken back to Madagascar. However he is double-crossed and the Africans arrive on American soil and sold as slaves. -
Boston Massacre
This was when a group of British soldier were getting hazed and apparently feared for their lives. A clan of Bostonians surrounded them. The soldiers decided to shoot at the group and killed 4. One of them was Crispus Attucks, a black man. As part of propaganda, a picture in the newspaper depicted Attucks as white. The writers thought it would anger Americans more if another white man was dead. -
Black Patriots
Black men fought for the Patriots during the Revolutionary War, beginning to end. There were several prominant figures like Prince Hall, Pomp Fisk, and Peter Salem to name a few. They went on to become heroes and had success later in life. Lord Dunmore said "Slaves who fight will be given freedom." General Washington used the same tactic. Blacks were banned from enlisting prior to this. -
Texas Revolution
Texas gained independence after a surprising attack by the US San Jacinto River in April. -
Civil War
This was a Cvil War in the US. The Southern Slave States seceeded to form the confederacy. The war was based on whether to keep or abolish slavery. Over 750,000 soldiers died. -
Emancipation Proclamation
This was put into affect by President Lincoln during the Civil War. This granted freedom to all slaves living in the ten rebel states. It freed almost 4 million slaves.
