Short Essay Four

Africans living as slaves in eighteenth century England struggled to gain freedom. Qhe Africans desperately wanted equality with their white counterparts and the ability to control their own lives. Self- determination was something that the enslaved sought to achieve. Tyrannical masters attempted to have power over every aspect of their slaves’ lives. Many slaves who worked as domestic servants in England would see that white servants had much more authority over themselves. Wages earned by free servants were seen by slaves as a symbol of sovereignty and many slaves fought to receive them. Marriage and religious baptism were liberties given to all white Europeans; however, many slaves encouraged one another to seek out these institutions in order to claim their freedom (Lorimer 60). Slaves saw the privilege to make decisions regarding these important matters as crucial exclamation of their liberty. In the case of Olaudah Equiano, an African enslaved in England who eventually gained his freedom, the privilege to religious choice was an integral part of the definition of freedom. Equiano gained authority over his life by selecting a religion of his choice free from a master’s input (Equiano184). In addition to selecting his own faith, Equiano found freedom through travel, which he did extensively while both enslaved and free. The assertion and struggle for freedom created ill tensions between the Africans and Europeans. Traditionally, slaves were completely dominated by their owners. Slave owners were furious when their slaves began rebelling against them and declaring their right to liberty. Defiance of slave masters displayed the loss of power that the white Europeans had over the Africans. The fear created by this disobedience began “pressuring slaveowners to treat their Black servants as free domestics” (Lorimer 71). Once slave owners realized that Africans demanded liberty they attempted to appease them while keeping their power in place. The slaves’ quest for freedom ultimately left the Europeans fearing their loss authority over them. To slaves in eighteenth century England freedom was defined by the ability to control their lives and having the same rights as white Europeans. Being able to live as an ordinary, wage earning citizen was integral to slaves in their pursuit of freedom. Enslaved Africans were able to affirm these rights through various rebellious acts which complicated their relationship for their white owners. Slave owners were angry with their slaves for taking control of their own lives, but also fearful of any loss of status that would result from the slaves’ freedom. Liberty held various meanings to different slaves, but it was something they all were willing to fight for.

Short Essay 3

As soon as the establishment of slavery came into existence in France there were struggles to end the institution. Motivations to free enslaved people in France were different among different groups of people. Some people desperately fought to free slaves because of religious and cultural principles while others sought personal gain. France, a Catholic country, believed that Christians were superior to followers of opposing religions. French Christians were enticed to emancipate fellow Christians to prove their religion’s superiority. If a slave became a Catholic while enslaved, the French fought to free them. A law was put into place which “granted freedom to Catholic slaves owned by non-Catholics…freedom from Catholic masters depended on their own good graces” (Peabody 32). Non-Catholic masters were not entitled to service from Catholics under French law. Late in the eighteenth century many slaves converted to the religion to become emancipated. French courts were eager to permit and execute this law because it displayed the dominance of their religion over all who resided in France. Another set of individuals in France that tirelessly fought to free slave were lawyers. Countless Africans challenged their slave status in court with the help of attorneys. The main motivation behind the lawyers’ assistance was personal gain. Representing a slave in his or her fight for freedom held rewards for attorneys such as money and a prospering reputation. French lawyer Nicolas De Foissey would often present his bill to the slave he was helping before the judge in order to recover all fees owed to him. Foissey’s action made it clear that “financial motives contributed to the reasons why lawyers, especially procureurs, took on similar cases” (Peabody 103). Lawyers were driven by monetary reasons to free Africans enslaved in France. Due to the many laws concerning the freeing of enslaved persons lawyers were able to benefit tremendously in an anti-slavery crusade. In some instances, however, lawyers felt sympathy for slaves and contributed to the fight for their freedom because of high ideals (Peabody 104). Throughout the eighteenth century in France the struggle to free enslaved people was prominent in society. Slaves were aided in their fight because of many different motivations harvested by the French people. Some were motivated by personal principles while others wanted personal compensation. Though both groups were able to receive something for their efforts, neither one’s reward could compare to the Africans who received freedom.

Short Essay Two

Anti-slavery sentiment was prevalent among all political sectors in British abolitionist movements. Abolitionists consisted of both socially conservative and liberal people who worked together to achieve their goal. Both groups benefitted from slavery during the eighteenth century, yet towards the end of the century they both had turned against it. Those who are socially conservative or members of the “right wing” of society often let religion control their political views. Prior to abolitionist views, conservatives approved of the concept of slavery due to biblical ties to servitude and the ability to convert African slaves to Christianity (Davis 24). As the African slave trade progressed, conservative Britons felt slavery had become a despotic and morally repugnant institution. Leaders of the religious anti- slavery movement preached that the tyranny which was in control of slavery was “transforming slavery into an ungodly evil” (Walvin 167). After being witnesses to the cruelties of slavery, conservatives were quick to see that slavery did not represent their worldly views. On the other side of the political spectrum were the liberal enlightened scholars of the time, or the “left wing” which also wanted to stop slavery. Similar to the conservatives, the “left wing” had condoned slavery before condemning it. Liberal Britons believed that slavery was an inevitable part of human society; one culture would ultimately take over a weaker one making it submissive. Over the eighteenth century however, these enlightenment thinkers realized that slavery was holding back human progression not enabling it. Liberal thinkers desired to end slavery in order to create a progressive society not because of religious injustice. The enlightenment provided a great forum for abolitionists to discuss the hypocrisies of enslaving man while advocating for freedom for all. David Brion Davis writes, “the subject of Negro slavery on the agenda of the European enlightenment, weighing the institution against the general laws or principals that promoted human happiness” (Davis 22). Liberals believed that in order for society to advance, the institution of slavery must be ended because of its conflict with progressive ideals. The eighteenth century was a transitioning period for slavery in Briton. Both right and left wing Britons had reasons for supporting slavery at the beginning. Overall, Britons accepted slavery during the beginning of the eighteenth century for both religious and philosophical principles. However, with increased exposure to the institution both were able to see that it did not coincide with original reasoning for accepting it. In the end the same principles which allowed Britons to eagerly permit slavery and the slave trade provided the rationale for abolishing it.

Short Essay One

During the eighteenth century countless African men, women, and children were forcibly transported across the Atlantic Ocean and sold into slavery in North America and Europe. The slave trade was created to further capitalistic advances and it certainly altered the lives of the Africans who were forced into it. For the most part European nations created the slave trade in the Atlantic as a result for the massive need for labor in the North American colonies. David Eltis, a slave trade historian writes, “Slaves crossed the Atlantic for forced labor primarily in the sugar production or the economies that made sugar exports possible” (Eltis 23). The colonies’ reliance on crop exports required an inexpensive and productive workforce which the colonies used Africans to make. The reasons they were brought into the colonies had a lasting effect on the experiences they had while there. Africans who were captured and sold quickly lost all human rights once they became a slave. The slave trade transformed them into property. James Walvin, author of Questioning Slavery and slavery historian, states “Africans were quickly transmuted in the human commodity which was to shape the Atlantic economy” (Walvin 6). Those who were traded as slaves were nothing more than chattel to the plantation owners they were sold to. There is no doubt that being sold by slave traders had a profound effect on the Africans involved. Becoming property was just one of the transformations that the Africans who were forced across the Atlantic had to cope with. Life on plantations was made even more brutal because of class distinctions. According to Walvin the plantation class structure was arranged by “a subservient black labouring class, separated from their white superiors in almost every respect: in the nature of their work and the way they were treated (face to face and by law)” (Walvin 12). The slave trade caused Africans to become unjustly treated second class citizens. Not only were Africans forced to relinquish their human right but they were compelled to abandon their identity as an African. The majority of newly arrived slaves were separated from their family and given European names. Many of the Africans dressed in European fashion and adapted to European customs. Generally only once Africans found freedom did they rediscover their African heritage if ever (Gerzina 48). A flourishing economy in North America was established due to the slave trade in the eighteenth century. Unfortunately, it came as the result of turning Africans into human chattel. Slave trading, by nature, is a merciless practice that sought unrelenting capitalistic gain and destroyed the lives of all the Africans who were captured.