Comprehensive Study Guide: Exam Review, The Stono Rebellion, and The Legacy of American Slavery
Examination Review and Answer Key Details
During the initial portion of the session, the professor reviewed the correct responses for the recent examination to ensure students understand the specific terminology and historical contexts required for full credit.
Matching Section (Questions 1-4):
African Studies: Defined by the grouping of the history of African Americans and Africans to create specialized programs beginning in the early . The key identifier is the combination of Africa and African Americans.
Black Studies: Refers specifically to the first courses offered in the study of African Americans.
Law: A description of what something is under specific conditions.
Theory: A description that explains the "how" and "why" behind phenomena.
Multiple Choice Section (Questions 5-10):
FCC Degree Creator: The African American studies degree at Fresno City College was created by the professor himself (Dr. Thomas).
California Constitutional Slavery: When asked what year California removed slavery from its constitution, the answer is "Never." A ballot measure in failed to remove it.
Slavery and the Making of America Cases: John Punch was the African American individual punished with life-long slavery after running away with two white indentured servants, who only received additional time on their contracts.
Indigenous name for Egypt: The correct term is Kemet (referred to phonetically in the transcript as Kippet).
Punishment for Recidivist Runaway: According to the documentary Slavery and the Making of America, the penalty for a third attempt at running away was to have one's left cheek turned or branded.
Condition of the Mother: In the case of Thomas Driscus, who was enslaved but married a free woman, his children were born free because their status is based on the condition of the mother.
The Amistad Narrative (Question 11): Full credit required specific details of the event:
The Provocation: A cook named Celestino jokingly told the captives they were going to be eaten.
The Escape: An individual named Cincaid (Cinqué) picked a lock using a nail.
The Revolt: Captives used sugarcane knives to take over the ship.
The Navigation: They spared two crew members to sail towards the sun (Africa). At night, the crew changed direction, creating a zigzag pattern that eventually led them to America.
The Legal Battles: There were multiple trials. They won the first trial, but the President vetoed the decision, sending it to the Supreme Court. John Quincy Adams argued for eight hours, leading to a second victory and their eventual return to Africa.
Dynamics of Domination (Question 12):
Students were required to argue specifically for the North or the South, choosing five examples from a provided list. Generalizations did not receive credit.
Origins and Legal Nuances of American Slavery
The 13th Amendment Loophole: While slavery was technically abolished in , the language of the Amendment allows for slavery or involuntary servitude as punishment for a crime. This established a legal framework where incarceration functions as a continuation of enslaved labor under a different name.
Historical Context of Abolition: The Emancipation Proclamation did not practically free those it claimed to, as it primarily applied to regions where the government had no immediate control or to individuals who were already effectively free in the North.
Violent and Passive Resistance: The Stono Rebellion and Gullah Wars
Resistance to slavery was not limited to overt warfare; it was a multi-faceted effort involving both violent uprisings and everyday acts of defiance.
Passive Resistance Tactics:
Deliberate slow work patterns.
Vandalism of plantation property.
The maintenance of African traditions, which served as a rejection of the slave-owner's culture.
The Stono Rebellion (): This was a pivotal moment in South Carolina where groups of enslaved people moved plantation to plantation, burning them down and freeing others. This was fueled by the fact that African Americans significantly outnumbered Europeans in the South (in some cases by ratios of to or to ).
The Gullah Wars: This term refers to the prolonged period of resistance following the Stono Rebellion. Rebels retreated to marshy, swamp-like islands in South Carolina and Georgia that Europeans avoided due to terrain and insects. From these bases, they conducted raids on plantations before retreating to the safety of the islands.
Strategic Impact on the North: Northern states became concerned as they watched the South lose control. The fear was that once the rebels finished burning the South, they would move North. This economic and security threat spurred the Northern interest in crippling the Southern slave economy.
The Gullah Geechee Cultural Heritage
Geographic Preservation: The Gullah Geechee people are descendants of those who retreated to the coastal islands of South Carolina, Georgia, and Florida.
Gullah Language: It is a unique African American "camp language" (creole), combining at least different languages. It remains the only uniquely African American language in existence and is characterized by distinct African-sounding accents and syntax.
Gulla Gulla Island: A Nickelodeon television show in the featured Natalie and Ron Daise, who showcased Gullah culture. An executive producer at Nickelodeon discovered their traveling show and brought it to Nick Jr. to provide a space where children of color could see themselves represented.
The Black Seminoles and the Trail of Tears
Black Seminole Origins: In the early century, runaway slaves joined Seminole Indians in Spanish Florida. The Spanish Crown offered freedom to those who would help defend the land.
Historical Firsts: The Florida Everglades hosted the first legally sanctioned black free town on the North American continent.
The Second Seminole War ( to ): This was the largest and most expensive of the so-called "Indian Wars." It included the largest slave rebellion in US history when over slaves joined the Black Seminoles to destroy valuable Florida sugar mills.
Andrew Jackson’s Role: General Andrew Jackson invaded Florida in (unauthorized by the government) and eventually forced the removal of natives and Black Seminoles through the Trail of Tears, which resulted in approximately deaths. Jackson currently appears on the bill.
The Exodus to Mexico: In , John Horse and the Black Seminoles moved to Oklahoma (Indian Territory). After the US Attorney General ruled in that they were still legally enslaved, they fled to Mexico (where slavery was illegal). John Horse became a general in the Mexican Army, and his community was granted land in Naciemento, which their descendants occupy today.
The Haitian Revolution and Global Impacts
The Only Successful Slave Revolt: The Haitian Revolution ( to ) is the only instance in human history where enslaved individuals successfully took over the country of their enslavement and established a sovereign nation.
Leadership and Conflict:
Toussaint L'Ouverture: Led the fight against the French. He was lured to France under the guise of a peace treaty, captured, and starved to death in prison.
Jean-Jacques Dessalines: A Brigadier who, upon hearing of Toussaint's death, ordered the total eradication of the French presence on the island.
Defense Against World Powers: The Haitians successfully fought off the French, the Spanish, and the British Navy. The British abandoned their efforts in , marking the end of their involvement in the slave trade due to the high human and financial cost.
Human Rights vs. Civil Rights in the Modern US
Civil Rights: Rights guaranteed by the state/constitution (e.g., the and Amendments).
Human Rights: Universal necessities including justice, education, food, shelter, and healthcare.
International Stance on Food: The United States was the only country to vote against making food a recognized international human right.
Healthcare as a Business: In the US, healthcare operates as a business rather than a service. This leads to extreme costs, such as for a saline solution in an EMT vehicle or base charges for an ambulance ride. This has resulted in the "Uber/Lyft" phenomenon where people avoid services for medical emergencies to avoid debt, sometimes resulting in death.
Questions & Discussion
Student Question: "Did John Adams not get involved until the second time (The Amistad trial)?"
Response: Correct. John Quincy Adams was not involved until the case reached the Supreme Court. The captives won both trials, and they only returned to Africa after the second victory.
Student Question: "What were the six dynamics of domination?"
Response: The professor noted that for the exam, students needed to list them and provide examples. The list includes elements used to maintain control over populations.
Audience Commentary on Economics: A student discussed the underfunding of Native American departments, noting that while some departments receive billions, others receive net budgets as low as after deductions, despite the high costs of addressing poverty and drug care.
Anecdote on Medical Debt: The professor recounted an instance of being charged for a single night in a hospital without insurance. He joked about having to renegotiate the price by threatening to flee back to England, noting that it would be cheaper to fly first class with a severed leg in its own seat than to pay US hospital bills.
Discussion on Hospital Fees: Students shared stories of hospitals charging "skin-to-skin contact" fees for holding a newborn baby and attempting to seize placentas for profit.