Key Concepts from Lecture on Slavery and the American Revolution

These flashcards cover key vocabulary and concepts from the lecture notes on slavery, the American Revolution, and Enlightenment principles.

What were the similarities between early slave trade in Africa and Europe?

Both involved capture, trade, and forced labor of people.

How was slavery in the New World different from earlier forms of slavery?

New World slavery was hereditary, lifelong, large-scale, and legally codified racially.

Why did African slaves become the main labor force over Indigenous peoples and white indentured servants?

Indigenous populations declined due to disease; indentured servants were temporary; Africans had agricultural experience.

What initial stage did an African slave face after capture?

Capture or purchase during war or raids, then sold to African traders.

What is the Middle Passage?

The transport of enslaved Africans across the Atlantic with high mortality due to disease and abuse.

What did black codes aim to achieve?

To protect the economic interests of white planters, maintain racial hierarchy, and ensure slavery was stable, permanent, and inheritable.

What was the paradox of slavery in colonial America according to Gary Nash?

Colonies founded on ideals of liberty enslaved an entire race, contradicting principles of equality.

What merging of ideas occurred in the 1740s in the colonies?

The Enlightenment ideas merged with the Great Awakening, challenging taxation and authority.

What was Thomas Paine’s argument in 'Common Sense'?

Monarchy is unnatural and corrupt; the colonies should seek independence.

What key concept did Jefferson emphasize in the Declaration of Independence?

People have inalienable rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.

What did James Madison argue against in his 1785 'Memorial and Remonstrance'?

Government funding for religious causes infringes on religious liberty, a natural right.

What were the two dangers Washington identified in his Farewell Address?

Political factionalism and foreign alliances.

What hardships did the slave Venture Smith face for freedom?

Capture, forced labor, and accumulation of resources to purchase freedom.

What was Thomas Jefferson’s objective in 'Notes on the State of Virginia'?

To justify the racial hierarchy and slavery using natural philosophy.

What stood out in the 1789 Declaration of the Rights of Man?

Equality before the law and freedom of speech and religion.

How does Paine defend the rights of man over time?

He presents it as universal, not tied to class or birth, enduring beyond social structures.

What issue did Mary Wollstonecraft highlight in 'A Vindication of the Rights of Woman'?

The exclusion of women from civil participation exposes the limits of the revolution.

What is the significance of equality before the law?

Every individual is equal in the eyes of the law, with laws applying uniformly.

What is meant by freedom of speech in the context of rights?

Individuals have the right to express opinions freely and practice any religion.

What does the statement 'slavery was racially codified' imply?

Laws formally established racial slavery as a permanent status.

How did the Great Awakening affect colonial society?

It challenged older ideas about authority and established religious practices.

What were black codes' restrictions on enslaved people?

They could not testify against whites, marry without permission, or own property.

What was a key consequence of the high mortality rate during the Middle Passage?

A significant reduction in the number of enslaved people arriving in the Americas.

What economic factor drove the implementation of black codes?

The desire to protect the economic interests of white planters.

What does Wollstonecraft argue regarding educational rights?

Equality in access to education and civic participation for women.

What was the basis of the Enlightenment thought in colonial America?

Emphasis on human rights, individual liberty, and self-government.

How did Paine's arguments reflect Enlightenment principles?

They centered around reason, individual rights, and critiques of traditional political structures.

What role did agriculture play in the enslavement of Africans?

Africans brought agricultural expertise that was highly valued in the Americas.

In what ways did the American Revolution reveal contradictions?

It highlighted the conflict between the fight for liberty and the existence of slavery.

What aspect of social justice does the Declaration of the Rights of Man promote?

It promotes the idea that all humans should be treated equally under the law.