FREE ESSAY ON SLAVERY IN AMERICA

SLAVERY IN AMERICA

Slavery in America
slavery in america George Washington Could Not Afford To End Slavery; and The Underground
Railroad In his writings, George Washington felt very strongly that slavery was an
institution that needed to be eliminated from American society. However, there were
several circumstances that arose following the American Revolution that would prevent
Washington from actively pursuing the elimination of slavery during his lifetime. It is
certainly plausible that George Washington's personal economic short-comings, forefront
in the setting of conflicting political agendas and the nation's revolutionary climate,
prevented this founding father from actively pursuing the nationwide emancipation of
slaves. Prior and during the American Revolution, little was written by Washington on his
feelings about slavery. In the last year of the war and thereafter, more attention was
spent by Washington on the issue of slavery. On February 5, 1783, Washington received a
letter from Marquis de Lafayette, whom Washington considered both a friend and a son,
that stated, Let us unite in purchasing a small estate, where we may try the experiment
to free the negroes, and use them only as tenants. Such an example as yours might render
it a general practice... (Sparks v.3, p.547). It is doubtful that Lafayette would have
proposed this idea unless he knew that Washington had strong views on seeing the
elimination of slavery. Washington wrote back to Lafayette on April 5, The scheme... to
encourage the emancipation of the black people of this Country from that state of Bondage
in which. they are held, is a striking evidence of the benevolence of your Heart. I shall
be happy to join you is so laudable a work... (Fitzpatrick v.26, p.300). Unfortunately,
Washington was still in charge of the American troops, and would be so until December, so
he thought it would be best to ...defer going into a detail of the business, 'till I have
the pleasure of seeing you (Fitzpatrick v.26, p.300). However, when Washington finally
did return home in December, he found himself in such great debt that even noble
experiments like the one that Lafayette had proposed, had to took a back seat to getting
Washington's financial situation in order. Lafayette went on with his plan alone, buying
land in the French colony of Cayenne (Sparks v.4, p.110). Washington was still very
supportive of this plan despite his inability to participate, and on May 10, 1786, he
wrote to Lafayette, [Y]our late purchase of an estate in the colony of Cayenne, with a
view of emancipating the slaves on it, is a generous and noble proof of your humanity
(Fitzpatrick v.28, p.424). Washington hoped that the American people would have similar
ideas and feelings on slavery, but he realized that this hope was very unlikely to be
realized. He writes to Lafayette in the same letter, Would to God a like spirit would
diffuse itself generally into the minds of the people of this country; but I despair of
seeing it (Fitzpatrick v.28, p.424). While Washington believed that the slaves needed to
be freed, he also thought that the process should be a slow and gradual one. He felt that
to release the slaves all at once would, [B]e productive of much inconvenience and
mischief... (Fitzpatrick v.28, p.242). There would be a mass of former slaves in America
who did not have the skills needed to survive. Many of them may have had to resort to
stealing in order to feed themselves. It would also be very inconvenient for the slave
holders who depended so greatly upon their slave work force. To eliminate such a work
force would devastate many Americans, mostly Southerners, who relied heavily on
slave-labor. In numerous letters, Washington stresses his desire to see Legislative
authority enact a plan that would slowly and gradually free the slaves. In a letter to
Robert Morris on April 12, 1786, Washington writes, I can only say that there is not a
man living who wishes more sincerely than I do, to see a plan adopted for the abolition
of [slavery]...by Legislative authority... (Fitzpatrick v.28, p.408). He also writes on
September 9, 1786, to John Mercer that, I never mean...to possess another slave by
purchase; it being my first wishes to see some plan adopted, by which slavery in this
country may be abolished by slow, sure, and imperceptible degrees (Fitzpatrick v.29,
p.5). Much later in his life, Washington is still echoing this same message when he
writes on August 4, 1797, to Lawrence Lewis that, I wish from my soul that the
Legislature of this State [Virginia] could see the policy of a gradual Abolition of
Slavery... (Fitzpatrick v.36, p.2). Despite Washington's high hopes and grand talk, he
himself did not free one slave during his lifetime. Before it is thought that Washington
was simply all talk, however, it is important to consider the circumstances, in
particular his financial situation, that he had to deal with upon returning home from the
war in late 1783. As Freeman writes, The eight years of service in the Army had been
eight years of neglect at home (v.6, p.4). Debtors paid Washington back during his
absence with greatly depreciated currency. The 1781 British raid saw eighteen slaves run
away, and another nine had to be sold. The nine slaves that were sold during Washington's
time in the army, were sold only because the estate had not even enough money to pay for
taxes. According to Carroll and Ashworth, Washington opposed the selling of Negroes like
cattle in the market (Carroll v.7, p.585). The man left in charge of Washington's estate,
Lund Washington, had an aversion to travel and bookkeeping, which meant that rent from
Washington's western lands were never collected (Freeman v.6, p.4-5). In Washington's own
words, I made no money from my Estate during the nine years I was absent from it, and
brought none home with me (Fitzpatrick v.27, p.345). Add this to the fact that Washington
refused a salary as General of the army, and it quickly becomes evident that the
Washington estate was not in very good financial shape. As much as Washington may have
wanted to, if he would have given his slaves their freedom, it would have proved
financially disastrous. Without this needed labor force, it is quite possible that
Washington may have never gotten out of debt. He refused all attempts by Congress to give
him a yearly allowance (Freeman v.6, p.6). He had spent eight years volunteering his time
and energy to the Continental Army, it was unlikely that he would suddenly accept payment
from his country. He was proud to have served his country while collecting no salary, to
do so now would be an attack on his pride. The fact that Washington was in dire financial
straits can be easily seen in many of his letters. In a letter to the Earl of
Tankerville, on January 20, 1784, Washington writes, An almost entire suspension of every
thing which related to my own Estate, for near nine years, has accumulated in abundance
of work for me (Fitzpatrick v.27, p.309). On July 8, 1784, he writes to John Mercer, I do
assure you Sir, that I am distressed for want of money... (Fitzpatrick v.27, p.436). A
year and a half later, Washington is still struggling for money, writing on December 20,
1785 to Mercer, ...[I]t cannot be more disagreeable to you to hear, than it is to me to
repeat that my wants are pressing, some debts which I am really ashamed to owe, are
unpaid... (Fitzpatrick v.28, p.363). Lund Washington, the man who was in charge of the
estate during Washington's absence, had not been paid since April, 1778. It wasn't until
1794 that Lund had been fully paid and the account closed (Freeman v.6, p.7). In his Last
Will and Testament, Washington finally freed his slaves, upon the death of Martha. In his
Will, Washington writes, Upon the decease [of] my wife, it is my Will and desire th[at]
all the Slaves which I hold in [my] own right, shall receive their free[dom] (Fitzpatrick
v.37, p.276). Washington refrained from releasing his slaves immediately, because he
realized that many of his slaves had married dower slaves, who could not be freed until
the death of Martha (Carroll v.7, p.585). To have freed his slaves immediately would have
produced, ...such insu[perab]le difficulties...[and] excite the most pa[i]nful
sensations, if not disagreeabl[e c]onsequences... (Fitzpatrick v.37, p.276) from those
dower slaves married to the freed slaves. Washington did not want to separate husband
from wife, mother from child. Washington also feared that some freed slaves who had
family that were dower slaves would help them to escape. By waiting until both he and
Martha were past away, both Washington's slaves and the dower slaves could be released at
the same time. Washington also provided in his Will for the care of those freed slaves
who, from old age or bodily infi[rm]ities, and others who on account of [thei]r
infancy...will be unable to [su]pport themselves..., should be given comfortable clothes
and fed by his heirs while they are alive (Fitzpatrick v.37, p.276). Those youths without
parents were to be cared for until the age of twenty, taught how to read and write, and
be shown how to perform ...some useful occupation... (Fitzpatrick v.37, p.276).
Washington demanded that, ...[T]his [cl]ause respecting Slaves, and every part thereof be
religiously fulfilled at the Epoch at which it is directed to take place; without
evasion, neglect, or delay... (Fitzpatrick v.37, p.276). Though it took him until his
death to free his slaves, Washington made sure that they would be given opportunities to
survive on their own, even if it meant costing his heirs a lot of money. Washington's
concerns and caring for the slaves is yet another reason why this man must be revered in
history. While it is true that he held over 300 slaves at the time of his death, it is
also true that through his influential letters, and through his releasing of his own
slaves in his Will, Washington helped to push the anti-slave movement forward. For a
Virginian in the late 18th century, Washington was truly enlightened on his views of
slavery. It is unfortunate that more Southern Americans did not follow Washington's lead,
for this issue of slavery would cost us many American lives in another sixty years, and
would almost destroy the nation that George Washington had worked so hard at building.
Underground Railroad I know you're wondering, what railroad? Well the simple fact is that
everybody has heard of the Underground Railroad, but not everyone knows just what it was.
Firstly, it wasn't underground, and it wasn't even a railroad. The term Underground
Railroad actually comes from a runaway slave, who while being chased swam across a creek
and was out of the owner's sight. The owner said ...must have gone off on an underground
railroad. That man was Tice Davids, a Kentucky slave who decided to live in freedom in
1831. The primary importance of the Underground Railroad was the on going fight to
abolish slavery, the start of the civil war, and it was being one of our nation's first
major anti-slavery movements. The history of the railroad is quite varied according to
whom you are talking. Slavery in America thrived and continued to grow because there was
a scarcity of labor. Cultivation of crops on plantations could be supervised while slaves
used simple routines to harvest them, the low price at which slaves could be bought, and
earning profits as a bonus for not having to pay hired work. Slaves turned to freedom for
more than one reason. Some were obsessed with being free and living a life where they
were not told how to live. Others ran due to fear of being separted or sold from friends
and family. Then there were some who were treated so cruely, that it forced them to run
just to stay alive. Since coming to America as slaves even back as far back as when the
first colonies began, slaves wanted to escape. They wanted to get away from the situation
they were forced into. Those who were free were the whites who were somewhat separated in
values. The North, was a more industrialized area where jobs were filled by newly
imported immigrants, making them less dependent on slave labor. The South, however had
rich fertile land mostly used for farming. Huge plantations were cleared and needed to be
worked. The people of the area tended to be more genteal, and seemed not quite adjusted
to hard work, but more of giving orders. The idea of telling people how to do their work
just seemed to fit all too well into this scenario. The railroad didn't have a certain
location. Slaves had been running since the 1500's on their own. When the idea caught on
amoung brave slaves, was when it started. Slave owners in the South certainly weren't
happy about the loss of property. It seemed like too much money was being lost.This
caused the South to pass the Fugitive Slave Act of 1793. This titled slaves as property
of their owners and gave permission to the owners to retrieve runaways any where in the
states, even those states that were free. The North was angry about the treatment of the
slaves and was not happy about owners being allowed to come into their states to take the
slaves back. Finally, the North decided to do something about it. To return the fire
thrown at them by the South, they would take away something that the North thought was
morally wrong,and the South's riches. They would help the slaves escape to freedom. The
slaves were now angry, scared, and confused. Hearing of this Underground Railroad, they
slowly began to run, more and more. By 1807 a law was passed to make it illegal to import
anymore slaves. Agricultural improvements came along, and with the limited number of
slaves left in the states, the value of the slaves went up very quickly. Abolition
Societies began to form, and along with religious groups became active in helpin gslaves
to freedom. The Railroad beggan to take shape. A shape that is to this day very hard to
describe. Traks were laid to aide the slaves to freedom. People talked in secrecy to make
safe paths for the slaves to run on. These were the tracks. Letters were sent that had
terminology or code for the balcks. A lot of the terms come from things found along
railroads. This is because real railroads at this time were the newest thing and happened
to be the topic of choice for conversation. This made it all the easier for the helpers
of the railroad to communicate going unoticed.Along the tracks, there were depots, safe
houses to stay. These were houses of free whites or blacks where they could hide when
they weren't running. The people who owned the houses were often called conductors. The
conductors often left a number of signs for the slaves to follow so they didn't go to
houses that belonged to allies of the slave owners. A quilt on the clothes line depicting
a house with smoke coming out of the chimney was a sign of a safe station. A white ring
of bricks around the the top of a house's chimney was another sign of a good hiding spot.
Shoppes that were safe often had a silohette of a fleeing man or woman on in sign. Other
siggns were used to guide the slaves. There were knocks that slaves used when approaching
a house,animal calls, and lights hung in windows. When a slave was moving to the next
house along the railroad, this was called catching the next train. There were also songgs
that ave directions to slaves that were taught to everyone so that they might memorize
the way. One such, was Follow the Drinking Gourd The drinking gourd was the slaves'
terminology for the big dipper. The Big Dipper's handle points to the north star, which
they could use to find their way north. The song gave landmarks along the way to follow
and a verse from it says  the dead trees will show you the way. This was put in the song
for a reason. The writer of this song, refered to as Peg-leg Joe, drew a picture of a peg
legg on the dead trees along the track with charcoal. The following verse is Left foot,
peg foot traveling on, accordingly. The tracks for the railroad weren't exactly laid. A
slave had many possible directions to run in, but the main idea here was safty over
quickness. The slaves often zigzaged in their paths to avoid being caught. There were
different forms of fleeing as well as different paths. Slaves could travel by water on
boats. Often in one of the many clever disguises fabricated by the people of the North
willing to lend a hand. Men were dressed as women, women were dressed as men, slave's
clothes were exchanged for those of a rich free person of color's to confuse the true
identity of the slave when seen by curious eyes. There were also some slaves that
traveled the road, by foot, in a caridge, or in a wagon often containing a fake bottom
making a tiny space where slaves could safely journey to freedom.Some traveled on surface
linesthe actual railroads of this time. Lightly colored slaves were dressed as whites,
and others were put in with the luggage and frieght. And yet dareing others traveled as
baggage. Such a person was Henry Box Brown who recieved his nickname by making the long
trip in a box marked this side up, and fragile. There are, however, reports from Henry,
after he reached the end of the line, where he testified being turned upside down and was
thrown about, which makes us all wonder what goes on with our mail service. In the end,
slaves had to find a way to blend with the people of the North so that they might live
their lives free. Some of the escaped fugitves met up with previuosly escaped friends and
family and formed communities. Others found a haven in the Native Americans with whom
they intermarried and reproduced. The civil war began and others found shelter with the
Union Army. The slaves soon found out that freedom did not mean freedom from work, but
they were happier because they now made their own decisions. Some died from exposure,
after not finding shelter from the North's frozen winter. Most slaves were not allowed to
learn to read and remained illiterate. Their not being able to read or understand the
fact that they had money of their own often lead cruel salesmen and employers to take
advantage of the blacks. Those who learned to do specific jobs in the South often took up
similar jobs in the North. The need for the railroad slowly began to decrease as the
fight for abolishment grew stronger. It was no longer nesscary for the raliroad to be,
since almost all the slaves who were going to run already had. The final motion that
brought the railraod to it's final stop was the signing of the Emancipation Proclamation
by Lincoln, ending all slavery in our now free country, forever. 
.
Bibliography 
Bibliography Biblography Carroll, J.A., and M.W. Ashworth. George Washington: A
Biography. Vol. 7. New York: Charles Scribner's Sons, 1957. 7 vols. Fitzpatrick, John C.,
ed. The Writings of George Washington. 39 vols. Washington: United States Government
Printing Office, 1933. Freeman, Douglass S. George Washington: A Biography. Vol. 6. New
York: Charles Scribner's Sons, 1955. 7 vols. Sparks, Jared. Correspondence of the
American Revolution, Letters to Washington. 4 vols. Boston: Little, Brown, and Company,
1853