Essay on the Contribution of Enslaved Black People in Establishing America

Enslavement of Africans in Jamestown had a significant influence on the American history because it contributes to the identity of America today. Slavery has changed course over an extended period of time from traditional customs to the formation of rules and regulations. Similarly, it has changed from laborer servitude to long lifespan servitude. On arrival at Jamestown in 1619, the African slaves acted as laborers. The laws made were harsh and did not favor any slave person. For instance, all other persons were to possess firearms and other properties but not the black people. It is significant to note that slave trade was under the protection of the law in every colony. It is shocking to point out that even the born babies became known through their mother (Baptist 343). For instance, if a child is born by a mother who is a slave, the child will become a slave. It is remarkable that the laws that were in place during that time did not favor any black because it denied them freedom to associate with the other race; all actions in the colony had to get authorization from the authorities in place at that time. Separate courts were set aside to try the slaves; it is important to that the slaves did not have a chance to a trial by the jury.

Is your time best spent reading someone else’s essay? Get a 100% original essay FROM A CERTIFIED WRITER!

Order now

Despite the hostile environment, the slaves played a critical role in establishing the United States of American. They had to take care of the large tract of land full of corn. They provided cheap labor that the whites just needed to manage their extensive plantations effectively. However, as the demand for labor rose, the cost of slavery also increased proportionally, making the slaves valuable human resource. The Africans had that unique value of working for long hours on the land as well as withstand harsh weather conditions. More so, the composition of the African slaves involved those who had been trained and had skills, semi-skilled workers and unskilled (Stobaugh, Diana and Terry 47). It is because of these diverse skills that led into the shaping of the identity of United States today. The historic American colony's economies could not have survived it they had a scarcity of cheap slave labor.

However, the United States had an opportunity to learn other farming skills since the slaves came from different parts of African continent. For example, the slaves from Central and West Africa had a perfect idea of how to grow rice in Georgia and South Carolina. Initially, rice cultivation was not in Great Britain. The slaves also led to the development of a wide variety of crops in the USA. For example, watermelon, millet, sorghum, okra and black eyed peas. Additionally, the African American impact on the United States is expressed in backs spiritual music. They used to sing while working on the plantations. Today, the jazz, rock, arts and blues music is as a result of enslavement, an African origin called "Banjo."

On the other hand, there has been a significant growth of African language into the American English language. For instance, the words such as gumbo, goober, okra, jazz and "Geechee" traditions have an African origin. The areas in the United States that have undergone cultural change include Northern Florida, Georgia and South Carolina (Boyer 45). Apart from influencing the language use, the African slaves also participated heavily in American Revolution. They fought for American liberation. Most African warriors fought because they were promised freedom after the wars. A good example is the undying support of Prince Estabrook in fighting the battle that involved Lexington and Concord. Another remarkable figure that participated in liberation wars includes the William Lee and Prince Whipple. They acted as slaves and Oarsmen to George Washington throughout the war. George Washington referred to the black army as "mixed multitude." It is because the continental army composed of 15% blacks and had to fight along with the whites' colleagues. In fact, the one and only treasured regiment of the black continental army were the first Rhodes and Massachusetts. The team fought on August 29th, 1778 at the Rhode Island battle preventing the British from crossing the American boundary. The slaves also become an integral part of gathering the intelligence about the enemies. Such slaves got freedom under the terms and conditions of the union control. The information was collected from the Confederates and reported to union officials. The great personalities that are remembered include George Scott who shared the intelligence with General Benjamin Butler. The information was highly classified, the details revealed the troop's maneuvers in Virginia Peninsula. The slave trade helped the Americans realize the potentials and merits of inventions. Although most slaves used their designs to buy freedom, they also contributed to an agrarian revolution in the USA. For example, Benjamin Bradley, a slave based in Naval Academy invented the first steam engines specifically for warships in 1840. More so, Oscar Stuart created a cotton scraper that led to his freedom and that of the family.

The United States government had to change the rule of the game in the slave trade to preserve the liberty of the African slaves. In 1796, the federal government issued a certificate that protected African sea sailors from being captured and turned into slaves (Berkin 144). As a result, the blacks received full American citizenship. The growth and development of America are hypocritical in nature because America is what it is today because of the solidarity efforts that African slaves provided in the history. The same slaves that were denied the intermarriage, no they can marry, they have equal rights just like the whites because America shines today because of the collective effort of both the whites, African American and other minority groups.

However, the movement against slavery supported by both the blacks and whites was the start of shaping the American social life from the 1830s to 1860s. The campaign was spearheaded by Frederick Douglas backed by William Lloyd Garrison. The movement termed slavery as a sin and a violation of human rights. According to the campaign agenda, slave trade lacked economic benefit because of its inefficient and regressive nature. Underground Railroad was a movie that enabled the slaves to escape from the plantations in the North and seek for safety in safe houses. Underground Railroad also acted as a strategy to spread the abolitionist gospel in the South. It is amazing to appreciate election Lincoln as the president united states because he was able to pass into to law antislavery laws, slaves in American colonies were freed and became part of American citizenship. Therefore, the antislavery movement not only led to the freedom of African slaves but also resulted in a change of ruling regime.

The purpose of emancipation proclamation was to preserve the United States as a nation and at the same time free the enslaved people of various colonies. In the north, social life was disrupted due to the existence of large-scale commercial businesses, manufacturing activities, and influential evangelical crusades. Evangelism led to a positive change in American spiritual direction (Rodriguez 605). The religious evangelism taught on having good moral behavior, avoid slavery because it is a sin before God and treating each other human beings. America underwent gradual improvement socially due to the rise of other movements such as pacifism, temperance and female gender rights. Consequently, the society in the south had suffered a great change in moral development against slavery; there was also an aspect o financial support to African American citizens. Despite a taste of freedom by African-American, they struggled to suit in the American social life due to the rebirth of whites' supremacy in the south. An example is the Ku Klux Klan movement founded on racist foundations (Horne 110). The civil rights movement in 1960, became an immediately counteract movement against whites' supremacy, aimed at protecting the African American from racial discrimination. It also aimed at ensuring that African American receives social and political benefit through reconstruction.

Abolitionist was also able to shape the politics of the day in America. The abolitionists also were able to create antislavery free churches that led to the separation of both the Methodists and the Baptists. In higher education, it was a great achievement to the abolitionist when they created the first Oberlin's College, Oneida Institute, and Illinois Knox College (Norton 298). The colleges were able to produce a substantial number of African American leaders. Similarly, the females in the movement were able to become that first chair o feminist movement in the USA. The civil war between the north and the south led to the formation of military emancipation. However, the creation of both the 13th and 15th amendments resulted in equality, demand land, right to participate in elections and equal opportunity in education. The utopian community led to the strengthening of social relationship, balancing of politics, religion, and occupation. In a nutshell, it is factual that the historical movements meant to change the American society by making life comfortable and worth living. The fight for peaceful coexistence led to an egalitarian society that promotes autonomy among individuals.

Conclusion

American slavery history has played an essential part in changing an economic, political, technological and social life. The movements against slavery did not rest after the achievement of the first agenda. That is freedom. But rather, it persisted to bring institutional change in ruling, education, religion and racial discrimination. Even up to now, various movements in the United States erupted recently to communicate the message of peace and consideration of the black lives matter agenda. The movements came about because of a series of the police killing of young, energetic black teenagers. Just like in 1865, the crusade on the civil war did not end until crucial reforms were realized. The fight for women rights gave them a chance to participate in public affairs, a right which formerly denied. On the other hand, education sector improved significantly because various institutions were developed to impart knowledge and skills to all children. It is because, whether a child was black or white shared common educational values. The American Temperance Society had a reasoned argument about the use of alcohol. It taught on how to abstain on overconsumption of alcohol. The movement used the negative effects of alcohol as facts to justify their message. Some of the adverse effects of alcohol included, abuse of women, children and underperformance in production.

Works Cited

Baptist, Edward E. Half Has Never Been Told: Slavery and the Making of American Capitalism. Place of publication not identified: Basic Books, 2015. Print. www.worldcat.org/oclc/900624142. Accessed on 24th April 2017.

Berkin, Carol, Christopher L. Miller, Robert W. Cherny, and James L. Gormly. Making America: A History of the United States. , 2014. Print. www.worldcat.org/oclc/864087023. Accessed on 24th April 2017.

Boyer, Paul S. American History: A Very Short Introduction. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2012. Print. www.worldcat.org/oclc/775271668. Accessed on 24th April 2017.

Horne, Gerald. The Counter-Revolution of 1776: Slave Resistance and the Origins of the United States of America. , 2014. Internet resource. www.worldcat.org/oclc/874563193. Accessed on 24th April 2017.

Norton, Mary B. A People and a Nation: A History of the United States. , 2015. Print. www.worldcat.org/oclc/869008320. Accessed on 24th April 2017.

Rodriguez, Junius P. Slavery in the United States: A Social, Political, and...