| Lecture 15: Transition to Capitalism — Slavery and Freedom after the American Revolution | |
| I. Philadelphia’s Grand Procession of 1788 and the boundaries of inclusion and exclusion in the young United States | |
| II. Anti-slavery activism by whites | |
| III. Anti-slavery activism by enslaved and free blacks | |
| 1787-1789 | Celebrating the Constitution |
|---|---|
| 1787 | Constitutional convention (May to September) |
| 1788 | New Hampshire ratified Constitution (9th state — Constitution in force) |
| 1788 | “Grand Procession” in Philadelphia |
| 1788 | “Federal Procession” in New York City |
| 1789 | United States Congress convened — April 1 (House), April 6 (Senate) |
| 1789 | President sworn in (April 30) |
| 1774-1782 | Anti-Slavery Action by Governments |
| 1774 | Rhode Island colonial legislature banned slave trade (on political principle, unlike Continental Congress, as economic boycott) |
| 1780 | Pennsylvania state legislature enacted gradual emancipation |
| 1782 | Virginia state legislature legalized manumission |
| emancipation = general freedom manumission = individual release | |
| 1775-1794 | Formation of Private Organizations |
| 1775 | Pennsylvania Abolition Society |
| 1787 | Society for Effecting the Abolition of the Slave Trade (Britain) |
| 1794 | first American Convention of Abolition Societies |
| 1787-1799 | Debates about Morality of Slavery in the United States |
| 1787 | Thomas Jefferson, “Notes on the State of Virginia” |
| 1791 | Benjamin Banneker, “Copy of a Letter from Benjamin Banneker to the Secretary of State [Thomas Jefferson]” |
| 1792 | Samuel Jennings, “Liberty Displaying the Arts and Sciences” |
| 1775 | Samuel Johnson, “Taxation No Tyranny ” |
| 1789 | Jedidiah Morse, “American Geography” |
| 1797 | Edward Rushton, “Expostulatory Letter to George Washington” |
| 1799 | Isaac Weld, “Travels through the States of North America” |
| 1807-1865 | Abolition of Slave Trade and Slavery |
| 1807 | Britain abolished slave trade |
| 1808 | United States abolished slave trade |
| 1833 | Britain abolished slavery |
| 1865 | United States abolished slavery |
| 1755-1828 | Definitions of “Freedom” and “Liberty” |
| 1755 | Samuel Johnson, A Dictionary of the English Language |
| “Free. At liberty; not a vassal; not enslaved; not a prisoner; not independant [sic].” “Freedom. Liberty; exemption from servitude; independence.” “Liberty. Freedom, as opposed to slavery.” | |
| 1828 | Noah Webster, An American Dictionary of the English Language |
| “Free. Being at liberty; not being under necessity or restraint, physical or moral. “In government; not enslaved; not in a state of vasselage or dependence; subject only to fixed laws, made by consent, and to a regular administration of such laws; not subject to the arbitrary will of a sovereign or lord.” “Freedom. A state of exemption from the power or control of another; liberty; exemption from slavery, servitude or confinement.” “Liberty. Freedom from restraint.” | |