Commonly referred to as the “Little Magician' of President Andrew Jackson, Van Buren was a Northern Democrat who did not own slaves. As such, his victory in the 1836 election was by no means inevitable; he was widely considered a compromising Yankee who could not be trusted to respect states' rights or slavery. Southern whites already felt greatly threatened by the perceived expansion...
Slave master John Lewis was stone dead. He was gone, but his 'property' still lived in western Virginia's Berkeley County. After he died, hiring out a slave named Charity on October 30, 1834 meant 15 in his family's pocket immediately. A remaining 82 was due to them later on account. Other slaves were also rented out. W. Russell paid out a sizable 70 for Pompey's labor, while...
On December 19, 1836, Philo, an anonymous member of the Norfolk community, tried to spur popular support for the resettlement of blacks in Africa. He called both Christians and patriots to rally for a cause truly worthy of the friends of the African race. This plan, he said, was consistent with individual rights and the peace, happiness, and prosperity, of the free coloured race ... [and] promises...
It took nearly a month for news of the Battle of San Jacinto to reach the Norfolk newspapers. When it did, it was the main story of the day, labeled Important and Cheering News From Texas. Samuel Houston's Texan army had met with Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna's Mexican forces in a battle and had routed their opponents. Although the Texans attacked with only six hundred men against Santa Anna's...
The Raleigh Theatre was the grandest in the land. After attending the grand-opening, all the men and women of the city agreed that they had never seen their own theatre surpassed in beauty and style. The curtain drapery over the hollow wooden windows and stage doors was fitted with precision, and the walls were no longer glum and drab but instead featured variegated colors trimmed in gold. The...
Easter Hudson appeared in the Brushy Creek Baptist Church records as early as 1831, but she became a member of the church on October of 1835. Easter, along with six other black members were listed with the surname of Hudson and were present in the new members list of 1835.There were two white members named Millie and Albert J. Hudson that also became members of this Baptist church at the same time....
Charles Ball was born in Calvert County, Maryland and was a slave for the biggest part of his life. His narrative starts with telling the reader about his early childhood life and the hardships of staying a family. He stresses to the reader that though many claimed the evils of slavery were getting easier during the times when laws protecting slaves started to come about, but it was in fact the...
One article had the headline, ABOLITION OF SLAVERY IN D.C., the other article, CASH FOR 400 NEGROES, the year was 1837. On January 10, 1837, the issues of slavery and abolition were weighing heavy on the minds of many Americans. The House of Representatives had accepted petitions and memorials on January 9. One of those was from Representative Adams of Massachusetts. His petition was signed by one...
As the years passed, it seemed that more and more Americans became frustrated with the institution of slavery. But there were many in the South who dissented from this opinion, who held steadfast to the ideal that slavery was a just institution. E.W. Taylor was one of them. Taylor, who moved to Charleston from the North to become a slave owner, enjoyed the perks of ownership to the fullest extent....
Slave owners had many justifications for why holding people in bondage was acceptable. From the idea that African Americans were a lesser race who needed taking care of by white patriarchs to the economic justification, slave owners were always trying to find new ways to dispute those who disagreed with their choice to hold others in captivity. Charleston slave holders were no exception in attempting...