African American History Final

Study guide for African American History Final

Mexican American War

War that ended with the United States gaining the majority of the Western States and heightening tensions over slavery. Fueled by the concept of Manifest Destiny.

Louisiana Purchase

A significant land acquisition by the United States from France, doubling the size of the nation. Crucial for America’s westward expansion and development as a nation.

Missouri Compromise

A legislative agreement in the United States that aimed to balance the interests of free and slave states. For every slave state, there had to be a free state to keep balance.

Manifest Destiny

The idea and belief that the United States was divinely called to expand across North America. Lead to many conflicts such as the Mexican American War.

California Gold Rush

With the Acquisition of California from the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo (ended the Mexican American War), James W. Marshall discovered gold at Coloma, California, causing a rapid influx of migration looking for this material and seeking to gain wealth.

Frederick Douglass

Chronicled his own journals. He was responsible for humanizing enslaved people using photography. Was the most photographed man in the 19th century. Published the North Star

The law of 1896 (Plessy v. Ferguson)

Upheld by the Supreme Court, allowing for separate, but equal accommodations for white and colored races.

John Brown

American Abolitionist, from Connecticut and lived in New York. God gave him a mission to help abolish slavery.

Gradual Abolition Act of 1780

The first extensive abolition legislation in the western hemisphere, passed by the Pennsylvania General Assembly on March 1, 1780. To appease enslavers, the act gradually emancipated enslaved people without making slavery immediately illegal.

New Orleans Free People of Color

Slavery would be determined by the mother. The city contained mixed socialization; well educated people of African descent were free in some parts of the city, almost having all of the rights as a White citizen.

Free African Society

Known as the 1787 Free African Society of Philadelphia, provided support and mutual aid for free African Americans. Founded by Richard Allen and Absalom Jones who also founded African churches.

Weeksville

A neighborhood in Brooklyn New York that became the second largest African American community pre-Civil War. It wasn’t destroyed through racial discrimination.

Free Black Communities

Communities that were often established in urban or abolitionist areas, providing network and support for members. With one these being Boston.

Gradual Emancipation in New York

Slavery was abolished on July 4th, 1899. The abolishment freed people based on factors they could not control. Any child born after this could be free only if their parents allowed them to.

Industrial Revolution

The process of change from an agrarian and handicraft economy to one dominated by industry and machine manufacturing. Introduced novel ways of working and living, greatly transforming society.

Cotton Gin

Created by Eli Whitney, a machine that separates cotton fibers from their seeds, significantly increasing productivity in cotton processing. Automated a labor-intensive task. Increased profitability of cotton, increasing the demand for slavery.

Sugar

introduced into Louisiana, it would become directly woven in the American economy after enslaved sugar workers in Haiti revolted. Harvesting this was reported as “death to those who worked at the mill“ - Henry Goings.

The Black Belt

An area in Mississippi encompassing the lower part of the Deep South. Considered to be the most fertile part of the land. Encroached upon after the American Revolution with the Indian Removal Act under Jackson administration.

The Katherine Jackson

A ship that carried some of the professor’s ancestors from Baltimore into New Orleans and the outskirts.

Tidewater-Chesapeake Tobacco

Introduced to England in 1565 and experimented by John Rolfe in 1611. The first African slaves were brought to Jamestown to cultivate this crop. Being in areas farming these crops cultivated cultural exchanges between white indentured servants and Black slaves.

South Carolina Indigo and Rice

In this area, African Americans primarily lived in the low country, keeping more African culture. This culture had a gendered system of labor, with women gathering rice and indigo.

The White House

Built by enslaved labor, and was home to the Domestic Slave Trade.

The Banjo

Was created by enslaved Africans and their descendants in the Caribbean and colonial North America.

Melville J. Herskovits

is an anthropologist who argued that Black culture in the Americas is a creative adaptation with a persistent African heritage.

Paternalism U.S. Slavery

Argued by Ulrich Phillips, a prominent historian, that slaveholders were benevolent. Oppressed people had to rely on their oppressors for protection.

Absalom Jones

A former slave who became a prominent clergyman and activist in Philadelphia. Founded the Free African Society along with Richard Allen in 1787. Founded the first Black Episcopal congregation and became the first African American to be ordained as a priest in the Episcopal church of the US.

Richard Allen

A prominent African American minister, educator, and a founder of the African Methodist Episcopal Church. One of the leaders who made an account of the Black community’s actions during the Yellow Fever epidemic.