Key Topics in Free Black History and Education in 19th Century America

What were the main sources of the Free Black population?

Natural increase, manumission, runaways (fugitives), and self-purchase.

How were free blacks treated in society?

Freedom did not mean equality; they faced discriminatory treatment and were often termed 'quasi-free' or 'slaves without masters.'

What efforts were made to educate free black children in the North?

State legislatures established segregated schools, and private schools were created by African-American leaders and white abolitionists.

Historically black institution founded in 1837.

Cheyney University in Pennsylvania.

Which university was established in 1854 to prepare black missionaries?

Lincoln University in Pennsylvania.

What was the significance of Oberlin College during the antebellum era?

It was the most famous biracial institution associated with the antislavery/abolitionist movement.

Who was the first black person to receive a Ph.D. from an American university?

Edward A. Bouchet, awarded a degree in physics at Yale University in 1876.

What business opportunities were available to free blacks despite restrictions?

Many became substantial property holders and worked as barbers, among other trades.

Who was Jehu Jones?

A Charleston, South Carolina tavern keeper and proprietor of one of the finest hotels in the city.

What was the status of free black slaveholders in the South?

There were relatively few; only about two percent of the 300,000 free African Americans in 1830 were listed as slave owners.

Name one free black slave-owner from Louisiana.

Ce Cee McCarty.

What professions did the Northern black elite include?

Physicians, lawyers, artists, musicians, poets, and writers.

Who was James McCune Smith?

The first African-American to earn a medical degree, graduating from the University of Glasgow in 1837.

What was significant about John Van Surly DeGrasse?

He was the first African American to be admitted into a U.S. medical society and served as a medical officer in the U.S. Army during the Civil War.

Who was the first African-American to argue a case before the United States Supreme Court?

John S. Rock.

Who was Edmonia Lewis?

A prolific American artist of the 19th century who studied sculpture in Rome.

What was Elizabeth Taylor Greenfield known for?

She was the best-known professional black singer of her time, known as the 'Black Swan' for her vocal range.

What was the purpose of the Black Convention Movement?

To strengthen and unify blacks against anti-black prejudice and to advocate for equal rights.

Who organized the 1st Black National Convention?

Hezekiah Grice, with the convention held on September 24, 1830, at the Bethel (A.M.E.) Church in Philadelphia.

What role did militant black newspapers play?

They circulated African-American political analysis and promoted activism against oppression.

Name a significant slave narrative published in 1847.

Narrative of William Wells Brown.

What was the African Grove?

America's 1st black theater, opened in 1821 by black businessman Allen Royce in New York City.

Who wrote the first novel by a Black American author?

William Wells Brown, with 'Clotel, or, The President's Daughter' published in 1853.

What was the significance of the Fugitive Slave Act of 1850?

It compelled the North to help return runaway slaves to their owners, causing frustration among free blacks.

Who was Mary Ann Shadd Cary?

A Black female teacher and advocate for equality, she was the first black female editor in North America.

What was a key sentiment among free Blacks in the 1850s?

A shift towards Black Nationalism, emphasizing racial solidarity and self-help.

Who is referred to as the 'Father of Black Nationalism'?

Martin R. Delany, who was a physician and editor of an antislavery newspaper.

What did Martin R. Delany's book explore?

Alternatives for black emigration to Africa, Latin America, and the Caribbean.

What was the impact of the abolitionist movement on free Blacks?

Many became frustrated with its failures, leading to a mood shift towards more militant actions.

What was the significance of the 1st Black National Convention?

It served as a platform for free black delegates to demonstrate their intelligence and respectability.

What were some forms of artistic expression by free Blacks?

Dramatic works, poems, novels, and historical writings contributed to their cultural identity.

What was the role of black women in free black communities?

They played key roles in community life and activism for equality.

What did the emigrationist conventions in the 1850s advocate?

They promoted the idea of African-Americans returning to Africa.

What was the significance of the Colored American magazine?

It was a militant black newspaper that contributed to the struggle for civil rights and activism.

What role did the Quakers play in the antislavery movement?

They were among the first to engage in antislavery activity during the colonial era (17th century).

What was the significance of the American Revolution for the antislavery movement?

It prompted colonial protests against slavery, as the ideals of political liberty conflicted with black bondage.

What was the goal of early antislavery societies formed after the American Revolution?

To end slavery gradually, often through compensating former masters and resettling freed slaves outside the U.S.

What was the Missouri Compromise?

A 1820 settlement that admitted Maine as a free state and Missouri as a slave state to maintain the balance of power in Congress.

Who was Benjamin Lundy?

A white Quaker abolitionist who founded the Union Humane Society and published the anti-slavery newspaper Genius of Universal Emancipation.

What was Theodore D. Weld's contribution to the abolitionist movement?

He was a key architect of the movement, known for his writings and for recruiting notable abolitionists like Harriet Beecher Stowe.

What was Wendell Phillips known for?

His eloquence as an orator and his commitment to the antislavery cause, including contributions to The Liberator.

What was the main focus of William Lloyd Garrison's activism?

He promoted immediate emancipation of slaves and founded the anti-slavery newspaper The Liberator.

What was the American Antislavery Society (AASS)?

Founded in 1833, it was the main activist arm of the abolitionist movement, advocating for immediate emancipation.

What was the Gag Rule in Congress?

A rule that prevented discussions of anti-slavery petitions from 1836 to 1844, opposed by John Quincy Adams.

How did black abolitionists contribute to the movement?

They wrote, lectured, preached, and established organizations to advocate for the end of slavery.

What was David Walker's significant contribution to the abolitionist movement?

His pamphlet, Appeal... to the Colored Citizens of the World... urged enslaved people to fight for their freedom.

What was Nat Turner's role in the abolitionist movement?

He led the only effective sustained slave rebellion in U.S. history in August 1831, which intensified proslavery legislation.

Who was Henry H. Garnett?

An educated former slave, orator, and leading abolitionist known for his speeches advocating for freedom.

What was the impact of Elijah P. Lovejoy's activism?

He was murdered by a pro-slavery mob for his anti-slavery journalism, highlighting the risks faced by abolitionists.

What was the relationship between the abolitionist movement and the women's rights movement?

Many abolitionists, including the Grimke sisters, also advocated for women's rights, linking the two social justice causes.

What was the significance of the National Anti-Slavery Standard?

Published by the AASS from 1840 to 1870, it served as a key communication tool for the abolitionist movement.

What was the outcome of the split in the American Antislavery Society in 1839?

The split led to the formation of the American and Foreign Antislavery Society, which took a less radical approach.

What were vigilance committees?

Organizations established by black abolitionists to assist escaped slaves and protect them from capture.

What was the primary aim of the abolitionist movement?

To end slavery in the United States through various means, including moral persuasion, political action, and direct activism.

What was the 'Call to Rebellion' speech?

An impassioned speech given at the 1843 National Negro Convention encouraging slaves to revolt against their masters.

Who was Samuel Ringgold Ward?

A prominent Black American abolitionist known for his oratorical power, who escaped slavery and dedicated his life to the anti-slavery cause.

What significant action did Samuel Ringgold Ward take after the Fugitive Slave Act of 1850?

He moved to Canada and continued to lecture against slavery.

Who was Frederick Douglass?

An escaped slave who became a prominent activist, author, and public speaker in the abolitionist movement.

What did Frederick Douglass advocate for after the Civil War?

He continued to push for equality and human rights until his death in 1895.

What was Charles L. Remond known for?

An African American orator and abolitionist who lectured against slavery and advocated for equal rights.

What was the significance of William Wells Brown?

He was a prominent African-American abolitionist lecturer, novelist, playwright, and historian.

What did Henry Bibb do after escaping slavery?

He founded an abolitionist newspaper, The Voice of the Fugitive, and lectured against slavery.

Who were William and Ellen Craft?

African American fugitives who escaped slavery by traveling disguised as a white male planter and her servant.

What was the Liberty Party?

A minor political party in the 1840s that advocated for abolition and broke away from the American Anti-Slavery Society.

What was the main focus of the Free Soil Party?

Opposing the expansion of slavery into the western territories of the United States.

Who was Robert Purvis?

A civil rights leader and abolitionist who helped establish the American Anti-Slavery Society and the Vigilance Committee in Philadelphia.

What role did William Still play in the abolitionist movement?

He was a conductor on the Underground Railroad and chairman of the Vigilance Committee of the Pennsylvania Anti-Slavery Society.

What was the purpose of the Vigilant Committee of Philadelphia?

To assist runaway slaves and provide resources for their protection and support.

What did the Vigilant Association aim to achieve?

To promote antislavery ideology and create a fund to aid colored persons in distress.

When did the Vigilant Committee of Philadelphia operate?

Between 1837 and 1852.

What was the significance of the Fugitive Slave Act of 1850?

It prompted many abolitionists, including Samuel Ringgold Ward, to relocate to Canada for safety.

How did Charles L. Remond contribute to the abolitionist movement?

He was the first black professional antislavery lecturer and advocated for equal rights.

What was the impact of the Crafts' escape on the abolitionist movement?

Their widely publicized escape helped gain support for the struggle to end slavery.

What was the relationship between Robert Purvis and Harriet Forten?

Purvis married Harriet Forten, the daughter of a noted black community leader.

What was the outcome of the Liberty Party's efforts?

Many members joined the Free Soil Party and later helped establish the Republican Party.

What did William Still do to help fugitive slaves?

He kept records of the people he aided to help families reunite.

What did the abolitionist movement aim to achieve?

To end the practice of slavery and promote equal rights for all individuals.

Who was the head of the General Committee of the Vigilance Committee created by the Pennsylvania Abolition Society?

Robert Purvis

What role did David Ruggles play in the abolitionist movement?

He was an African-American abolitionist who participated in the Underground Railroad and helped over 600 fugitive slaves reach freedom.

What was the Underground Railroad?

A network of secret routes and safe houses used by enslaved African Americans to escape to free states and Canada.

Who was Levi Coffin and what was his contribution to the Underground Railroad?

An American Quaker and abolitionist known as the 'President of the Underground Railroad,' who helped approximately 3,000 fugitive slaves.

What was John Fairfield known for in the context of the Underground Railroad?

He was a conductor known for his inventive methods to help runaway slaves escape to free states.

Who was Leonard A. Grimes?

An African-American abolitionist and pastor who served as a conductor of the Underground Railroad.

What was Jermaine W. Loguen's significance in the abolitionist movement?

He was an African-American abolitionist and chief agent for the Underground Railroad in Syracuse, New York, known as the 'King of the Underground Railroad.'

What was the Compromise of 1850?

A temporary truce on slavery that admitted California as a free state and enforced a strict Fugitive Slave Act.

What impact did Harriet Beecher Stowe's 'Uncle Tom's Cabin' have on the abolitionist movement?

It raised awareness of the horrors of slavery in the North and outraged the South, significantly advancing the abolitionist cause.

What was the Kansas-Nebraska Act and its consequence?

It repealed the Missouri Compromise, allowed for popular sovereignty, and led to violent conflicts known as 'Bleeding Kansas.'

What was the Dred Scott Decision?

A Supreme Court ruling that stated African Americans could not be citizens and that the Missouri Compromise was unconstitutional.

What was the significance of John Brown's Raid at Harper's Ferry?

It was an attempt to initiate a slave revolt by capturing a federal arsenal, seen as a precursor to the Civil War.

What was the main issue in the U.S. Presidential Election of 1860?

The election primarily revolved around slavery and states' rights, resulting in Abraham Lincoln's victory.

What event marked the beginning of the Civil War?

The attack on Fort Sumter by Confederate troops on April 12, 1861.

Which states seceded from the Union in 1860 and 1861?

South Carolina, Mississippi, Florida, Alabama, Georgia, Texas, and Louisiana.

Who was Maria W. Stewart?

A free-born African American who became a teacher, journalist, lecturer, and one of the first women to speak publicly in the U.S.

What was Sojourner Truth's original name and her contribution to the abolitionist movement?

Her original name was Isabella Baumfree, and she was an outspoken advocate for abolition and civil rights.

Manumission

The formal legal freeing of an enslaved person by the slaveholder

Self-purchase

When enslaved individuals bought their own freedom

Quasi-free

Free in legal status, but still denied full rights; 'slaves without masters'

Antislavery

Movement aimed at limiting or gradually ending slavery

Abolitionism

Immediate and unconditional end to slavery

Moral Suasion

Persuading the public to oppose slavery by appealing to their conscience