Slavery in the U.S., by the numbers

Summary

Between 1619 and 1865, approximately 12 million Africans were enslaved in the United States. The Middle Passage transported enslaved Africans from Africa to the Americas, with over 5 million sent to Brazil and 300,000 to America. Despite the 1808 ban on the African slave trade, domestic slavery persisted. Slavery was not confined to the South, and by 1860, enslaved Africans made up 13% of the U.S. population. Notable revolts, such as Nat Turner's in 1831, highlighted the brutal conditions. The Civil War, partly caused by slavery, saw nearly 179,000 black men fight for the Union. Slavery was officially abolished by the Thirteenth Amendment on December 6, 1865.

Takeaways

• 📅
• Enslavement of Africans in the United States occurred from 1619 to 1865.
• 🚢
• Approximately 12 million Africans were forcibly taken, with many dying during the Middle Passage.
• 🌍
• The Middle Passage was a triangular trade route starting in Europe, continuing to Africa, and then to the Americas.
• 🇧🇷
• Over 5 million enslaved Africans were taken to Brazil, while just over 300,000 arrived in America.
• 🗳️
• The 1787 Three-Fifths Compromise counted slaves as three-fifths of a person for representation in Congress.
• 🚫
• Slaves were prohibited from voting, learning to read, and marrying outside their race.
• 🇺🇸
• The U.S. Congress outlawed the African slave trade in 1808, but domestic slave trading continued.
• 🏙️
• Slavery was not limited to the South; in 1740, one-fifth of New York City's population were slaves.
• 🔢
• By 1860, enslaved Africans made up 13% of the total U.S. population, with the highest numbers in Virginia and Georgia.
• ⚔️
• There were an estimated 250 slave revolts, including the notable Nat Turner revolt in 1831.
• 🛠️
• Slavery was a primary cause of the Civil War, and the Thirteenth Amendment, passed on December 6, 1865, abolished slavery in the United States.

Q & A

When did the enslavement of Africans begin in the United States?

The enslavement of Africans in the United States began in 1619.

How many Africans were estimated to have been stolen from their homes and enslaved during the transatlantic slave trade?

Approximately 12 million Africans were stolen from their homes and packed on ships during the transatlantic slave trade.

What was the Middle Passage?

The Middle Passage was a route that transported slaves from Africa to North and South America, starting in Europe, stopping in Africa, and then continuing to the Americas before returning to Europe.

How many enslaved Africans were taken to Brazil compared to the United States?

Over 5 million enslaved Africans were taken to Brazil, while just over 300,000 arrived in the United States.

What was the purpose of the 1787 Three-Fifths Compromise?

The 1787 Three-Fifths Compromise counted slaves as three-fifths of a person for congressional purposes, which meant they could not vote but were still used to increase the representation of slaveholding states in the U.S. government.

When did Congress outlaw the African slave trade?

Congress outlawed the African slave trade in 1808.

Was slavery exclusive to the southern United States?

No, slavery was not exclusive to the south. For instance, one-fifth of New York City's population comprised of slaves in 1740.

What percentage of the total U.S. population were enslaved Africans by 1860?

Enslaved Africans comprised 13% of the total U.S. population by 1860.

Which state had the highest number of enslaved Africans by 1860?

Virginia had the highest number of enslaved Africans, followed by Georgia.

What was one notable slave revolt mentioned in the script?

One of the most notable slave revolts was the Nat Turner slave revolt in 1831, where he led a group of followers and killed approximately 51 whites.

How did Abraham Lincoln view the abolition of slavery in relation to preserving the Union?

Abraham Lincoln wrote in 1862 that if he could save the Union without freeing any slave, he would do it, indicating that his primary goal was preserving the Union, though he eventually issued the Emancipation Proclamation.

When was slavery formally abolished in the United States?

Slavery was formally abolished in the United States on December 6, 1865, with the adoption of the Thirteenth Amendment.