Themes in American History

Richmond, Virginia, like New York, was a fast growing city between 1800 and 1860. Of course it didn’t grow as quick as New York. There are a variety of things that the two cities had in common even though New York was more business-related, whereas Richmond was more of a plantation/farm-based city. Richmond was following the same path as New York, having their first City Hall built in 1816, says visitrichmondva.com. In the 19th century, slavery was common in both of these cities. It’s obvious that a city as large as New York would need slaves to help regulate the flow of business and in Virginia, there were over a hundred slaves per plantation. Fortunately, slavery was abolished in New York in 1827. On the other hand, in the South, farming was a big part of daily life and they needed slaves and it was impossible for them to free a slave. “Only in Richmond, where slave manpower was essential to iron and tobacco provessiong, did a large proportion of slaves still persist in 1860” (Chudacoff 64). Due to their selfishness to keep slaves, Virginia joined the Confederacy, the states that supported slavery. Havoc broke loose in the mid 19th-century when the slave-free North, also known as the Union, and pro-slavery South clashed in a war known as the Civil War. The outcome of this war shaped the way for slavery for years to come. According to visitrichmondva.com, Richmond actually became the capital of the Confederate States. As common as Richmond was, it’s population didn’t burst until the mid to late 19th century, whereas New York experienced a sudden population growth starting from the 1820s, onward. “The establishment and expansion of the COnfederate government’s bureaucracy helped to triple the population of Richmond” (Chudacoff 74).

Slave auction in Richmond, Virginia on September 27th, 1856.

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Slavery existed in both cities -New York and South Carolina. During 19th century, cities are growing in the North. The slaves in northern cities like New York worked primarily as domestic servants, while the slaves in the South Carolina were working in the plantations. In 1810 African American had constituted over 10 percent of the population in New York City. (Chudacoff p66) Agriculture was very important to the South’s economy. In South Carolina, most of the plantations grew cotton and those plantations required large numbers of slaves. Compared to the South Carolina, the North’s economy was based on trade and merchandising. The households in New York City were wealthier so they could hire one or two slaves as servants. In New York City there was more numbers of slave-owners but in South Carolina there was more numbers of slaves working there. Slavery was officially abolished in New York in 1827. On the other hand it became nearly impossible to free a slave in South Carolina after 1820. The state had one of the most stringent slave codes in the country. The slavery even kept expanding in South Carolina in 1840s. (Lesesne p457) Slavery existed in America for more than 200 years, until the thirteenth amendment to the U.S. constitution was passed in 1865. After that, slavery was definitely abolished throughout the country.

The photograph was taken on Smith's Plantation, Beaufort, South Carolina.

Lesesne, H. (2003). South Carolina. In S. I. Kutler (Ed.)Dictionary of American History, (Vol. 7). (3rd ed., pp. 453-457) New York: Charles Scribner’s Sons Retrieved June 16, 2011,
from Gale Virtual Reference History Collection

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By early 1800s, after the revolution, large number of slaves acquired freedom. Most of them moved into the cities such as New York and Philadelphia.  There are two main reasons why many ex-slaves left for major cities. First of all, there are several job opportunities so that they can earn their own money for living. Second, at that time, ex-slaves get a chance to get married and live with their families. Moreover, free African Americans could establish schools, churches, benevolent organizations and so forth (Chudacoff pg.60).

Free African American

However, compare to philadelphia, more than twice number of freed African American in New York City are skilled workers. It is because white New York craftsman used to rely on slave worker during 18th century. The other main reason is many cities’ mulato emigres from the South had skilled trades (Chudacoff pg.61).

In conclusion, whether free African American labors were skilled or not, the main point of their life is they can establish their own society, community, family and enjoy their culture.

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New York: Slavery has been a key element in the development of New York City since its former time and it has served as the capital of American slavery for more than two centuries. Slavery was not fully abolished in New York until 1827 however the gradual abolishment process began in 1799.  By the 1800s slave trade proved to be a profitable business for the merchants in New York City. Almost every merchants and business man had a stake in the slave trade. By 1850s the owners of slaves would hire out or rent their slaves to nearby employers thus making it profitable for both slaves and masters. The slaves would have the opportunity to food, drink and entertainment. They had time to run their own churches and enjoyed a great mobility and cultural autonomy. They not only got the opportunity to social with their own race but also with poor whites. However it was not possible to supervise for the masters to supervise their slaves each and every minute especially if they were hired out. Slave codes then came into the picture resulting into a formal segregation which excluded slaves from most public accommodations. The law required the slaves to have license for certain jobs and they were forbidden to learn how to read and write.

Nashville: Slaves where one of the most valuable assets for Nashville. It served as a market for both the purchasing and selling of slaves. It had a large population of skilled slaves and by 1800 forty five percent of Nashville inhabitants were slaves. However by 1860 this number started gradually declining to the immigrants from Europe. Living in the city provided the slaves with great opportunity to read and write and experience quasi-independence that was unknown to those who were still living in the plantation. Most of them were skilled worker, had family and maintained a social life and religion.

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Difference

During 1850’s Urban slaves enjoyed greater mobility and cultural autonomy than did the rural counterparts. City slaves partook of a wider world. They had access to food, drink, entertainment, and the common sociability of urban life. They sometimes ran their own churches and they often sneaked away to talk and drink with fellow slaves, free African Americans and even working class whites in the backalley groceries and grogshop scattered throughout every southern city. Preferring to avoid costs of housing their slaves, some master gave their slaves permission to live as well as work away. When slaves lived out, they often resided in rented rooms on the fringes of town where free blacks and poor whites also lived. On the other hand, rural slaves such as Bondsmen on plantations lived in the slave quarters and saw only their masters’ families and occasionally slaves from a nearby plantation. (Chudacoff and Smith, 73)

Common

The Civil war, like all wars, had a disruptive effect on American cities during 1863. The riots erupted in New York Cities as well as in Richmond, Virginia. In New York, the turmoil lasted for four days which resulting more than four hindered deaths. Similarly, many people died in Richmond as well. However, the war itself had varying effects on cities, depending on the social and economic climate. (Chudacoff and Smith 81-83)

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The two North American cities New york and New Jersey developed in many different ways during the mid and early 1800s. Both the cities have significant similarities as well as some differences.

                                    New Jersey prospered during the early 1800s. New factories sprung up through out the state. Paterson became a textile center and later became known for producing trains and silk. Trenton produced clay products, iron and steel. Camden, Elizabeth, New wark and Jersey city all became major manufacturing centers in the 1800s. New york city was developing in different ways; the Erie Canal was completed in the 1825 providing boats a gateway to the Atlantic Ocean to the Great Lakes. The economic impact of the Erie Canal was tremendous. Businessmen were able to ship goods in and out of the New York City through this man made river ( official website of the New Jersey State and www.inetours.com).

 One difference between the two states is, Legislation was passed in the  1804 to abolish slavery in the state of New Jersey; where as in the New York city slavery was still in existence until 1827.

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I would like to compare New York City with Charleston, South Carolina because it was the only city which had higher number of slaves in proportion to urban population than New York at the end of 18^th century. The great number of slaves in Charleston was caused by expansion of cotton production, during the Antebellum period, which relied heavily on slave labor.

Both cities were seaports, so in most cases that was the first stop for the enslaved people who arrived to the United States. Life of the busy Charleston seaport provide unique opportunists, which were not available to people who worked on plantations. In New York as well as Charleston, slaves could “enjoy” urban life mostly because they live away from their masters supervision. They had obligation only to bring certain amount of money they made.

While slavery in New York starts to decreasing in early 1800s due to Gradual Emancipation Law, Charleston kept people enslaved for much longer period. According to New York Historical Society in 1828 “most New York slaves had already been freed.” In contrary, in 1856, Charleston’s city ordinance prohibited the practice of public auctions of slaves which initiated opening of special sales room, yards and marts. One of them was called The Old Slave Mart and “when sales were held in the shed, slaves stood on auction tables, three feet high and ten feet long, placed lengthwise so slave owners could pass by them during the auction” (nps.gov.) Slaves auction at the Old Slave Marts ends in 1862. This huge time disproportion, shows how slavery institution were approached differently in different parts in the county.

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I agree with the previous comments that we have an association of freedom with the North and how most of slavery took place in the South.  Although the south utilized the manpower of slavery for plantations, the North also exploited African Americans because many merchants, farmers, and artisans needed people for labor.  What I found incredibly interesting about the website is how long it took emancipation to take affect.  I’ve always thought NYC was a place that was ahead of its time on civil rights but what I have learned was emancipation was a long and grudgingly taken endeavor.  It took over 28 long years from the first step that was passed by John Jay, the Gradual Emancipation Act in 1799 and complete abolition of slavery in New York in 1827.

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When I’m browsing in the Lost Museum on the website, I’m trying to look for a historical character. On the 2nd floor picture gallery, there are many pictures of historical characters. I’m interested in one of the picture —-John Brown. The abolitionist John Brown was one of the most controversial person of the 19th century.  There are several incidents that influence him a lot. Firstly During his childhood year, his father explained to him that slavery was a sin against God. Also, he witnessed the beating of slave when he visited a farm.  Moreover, in 1837, Brown attended a meeting in Ohio in memory of Elijah Lovejoy, an abolitionist newspaper editor who had been killed in Illinois. At the meeting, Brown raised his hand and vowed that he would destroy slavery. Those incidents really motivate him to abolish slavery.  In 1859 he led a party of 21 men in a successful attack on the federal armory at Harper’s Ferry. Brown hoped that his action would encourage slaves to join his rebellion, enabling him to form an emancipation army. Two days later the armory was stormed by Robert E. Lee and a company of marines. Brown and six men barricaded themselves in an engine-house, and continued to fight until Brown was seriously wounded and two of his sons had been killed. John Brown was tried and convicted of insurrection, treason and murder. He was executed on 2nd December, 1859. After his execution on December 2, 1859, Brown became a martyr to those opposed to slavery. And the controversy over his actions and his fate helped stoke the tensions that pushed the United States to the brink of Civil War. Americans either regarded him as a noble hero or a dangerous fanatic.

The Lost Museum is really informative which contains a lot images and animation.  If you browse the museum, we will find that the museum is really categorized. Actually, the ground floor is mainly about the American cultural history. The second floor is mainly about entertainment and historical character. Although the lose museum is virtual, it looks realistic. The Lost Museum makes the visitors that they are really browsing in a real museum. When the visitors keep browsing in the museum, I think they can definitely expand their knowledge about 19^th century of American history.  However, some of the pictures and words are too small. The visitors may have difficulty to read.

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During my visit of “Barnum’s American Museum” I was fascinated by 3-D virtual reconstruction. Barnum purchased this museum in 1841 and it was United States most visited museum until it was burned in 1865.The lost Museum includes wax work, art work, animals, aquarium, and pictures depicting different events. In 19^th Century the sources of entertainment were limited so people were taking advantage of places like Lost Museum. In 19^th century events like Baby shows in which finest babies get rewards were popular. The Museum was full of strange things and paintings. The 8 feet tall sculpture of Miss Anna Swan also draws my attention. Which is one example, why people get attracted to that Museum. Different Articles and letters from Lost Museum tell us about the history of slavery. Although NY State abolished slavery in 1827 but colored people were still unable to visit public places. “New York Tribune” newspaper in which Barnum allowed colored persons to visit his museum only for one day is also very important in history of museum. Unfortunately museum was burned to ground in 1865. The picture below is depicting burning of Museum.

The Museum is full of mysteries, in every corner there is part of history laying. It feels good to visit museum by sitting at home. Although few paintings were unclear with lack of information but overall the visual tour was good experience. The Lost Museum website is really great effort of preserving history.

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Exploring The Lost Museum was a very intriguing experience. Navigating through this virtual museum helped to understand the events and people that shaped New York City and the U.S. as a whole. One exhibit that was especially interesting was the No. 6 Sumner-Brooks Warworks found on the second floor of the museum, which shows an exact representation of the infamous May 22nd assault on Massachusetts Senator Charles Sumner in the Senate chamber by South Carolina representative Preston S. Brooks. Here we see our politics in its infancy, yet very passionately displayed, in its attempt to quell the fight on slavery. Preston Brooks was the cousin of South Carolina Senator Andrew Butler, who Senator Sumner, a staunch abolitionist, blasted for what he called his “crime against Kansas”, an area where slavery was beginning to resurface after a 30-year ban. Brooks took to his cousin’s defense and savagely beat Sumner with his cane, which the picture on the right displays. The museum prevalently showed the horrors of slavery as an institution, and brought the the forefront the essence of freedom for the enslaved that bleeds from the veins of our country’s history. The image on the left represents the rising tension in the country during the mid-1800s over the issue of slavery. The Lost Museum was truly rich in history and definitely a great tool in exploring the events, politics and arts of our country.

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Out of curiosity, I clicked “who burned down the museum” before I explore the museum. That’s how I see, P. T. Barnum, in his office and telling me (perhaps) to solve a mystery while I am exploring the museum. That video makes interested in this website even more. I learn that the original Barnum’s American Museum was burn to the ground in one of the most spectacular fires New York has ever seen on July 13, 1865. This virtual version of the museum may not be exactly same, but it certainly cannot be burn down anymore.

My museum night start with the Barnum’s office, which I truly realize that why some many people hated him so much. One picture on his table catch my attention. He was trying to challenge public’s attitudes about everything was happening in that period. Because his politic interests was focusing on race, slavery, and sectionalism in the period leading up to the American civil war. Therefore, he used the museum as one of his ways to speck to the public, such as he played Uncle Tom’s Cabin to make family entertainment. However, what he really wants to do is much more than entertainment.

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