The history of slavery in the USA | A Big History Of America

Summary

This script chronicles the history of African Americans in the United States, from the first slaves' arrival in Jamestown in 1619 to the Civil Rights Movement. It explores the economic reliance on slave labor, the struggle for freedom during the Civil War, and the subsequent rise of racial segregation. It highlights key moments like the Montgomery Bus Boycott and Martin Luther King Jr.'s leadership, culminating in the Civil Rights Act of 1964, symbolizing a long fight for equality.

Takeaways

• 🚢 Christopher Columbus' voyage in 1492 marked the beginning of European exploration and settlement in the Americas.
• 🌳 The first permanent European settlements were established by the Spanish in Florida, followed by the French and British.
• 🏰 The British colony of Jamestown, founded in 1607, initially struggled but thrived after tobacco cultivation began.
• 🌱 The success of the Jamestown colony set the stage for further British colonization and the idea of America as a land of opportunity.
• 📦 The first African slaves arrived in Jamestown in 1619, marking the beginning of slavery in America.
• 📜 The U.S. Constitution's declaration that 'all men are created equal' was contradicted by the exclusion of women, indigenous people, and enslaved Africans.
• 💼 The Southern economy was heavily reliant on slave labor, especially for tobacco and cotton plantations, which contributed significantly to the nation's wealth.
• 🔍 The election of Abraham Lincoln, who was opposed to slavery, led to the secession of Southern states and the formation of the Confederate States of America.
• 🔥 The American Civil War was fought over the issue of slavery, and its abolition was a key outcome of the Union's victory.
• 📜 The 13th Amendment, which abolished slavery, was passed after the Civil War, but it left unresolved questions about the nature of freedom for former slaves.
• 🚫 The period of Reconstruction following the Civil War attempted to secure rights for former slaves but ended with the rise of racial segregation and the doctrine of 'separate but equal'.

Q & A

What motivated early European explorers, like Christopher Columbus, to explore the New World?

Early European explorers, including Christopher Columbus, were motivated by the pursuit of fabled promised lands rich in resources and wealth. They envisioned lands of plenty where they could find abundant opportunities.

Which European country was the first to establish a permanent settlement in what is now the United States?

The Spanish were the first to establish a permanent settlement in what is now known as Florida.

What was the significance of the Jamestown colony, and how did it survive despite early struggles?

Jamestown, established in 1607 in present-day Virginia, was the first English colony in North America. Despite early failures and high death rates due to lack of skills and knowledge, the colony eventually thrived after discovering that tobacco cultivation could sustain its economy.

When did the first African slaves arrive in the Jamestown colony, and why is this event historically significant?

The first African slaves arrived in the Jamestown colony in 1619, marking the beginning of the history of slavery in America, which would have profound economic and social implications for centuries.

How did the American economy benefit from slavery, particularly during the 17th to 19th centuries?

Slavery played a crucial role in the American economy, especially in the Southern plantations. Initially focused on tobacco cultivation, by the early 19th century, the demand for cotton skyrocketed, and slave labor became essential to meet the global demand, significantly contributing to America's financial power.

What role did slavery play in the lead-up to the American Civil War?

Slavery was a fundamental cause of the American Civil War. The South's economy was deeply reliant on slavery, and the election of Abraham Lincoln, who opposed its expansion, escalated tensions, ultimately leading Southern states to secede and form the Confederacy.

What was the significance of the Emancipation Proclamation issued by Abraham Lincoln during the Civil War?

The Emancipation Proclamation, issued in January 1863, declared all slaves in Confederate states to be free. While it was a wartime measure aimed at undermining the Confederacy, it also allowed freed slaves to join the Union Army and fight for their own liberation.

What impact did the 13th Amendment have on slavery in the United States?

The 13th Amendment, passed in 1865, officially abolished slavery throughout the United States. It was a monumental step toward ending the institution of slavery, but it left unresolved questions about what freedom for formerly enslaved people would look like.

What was the ‘separate but equal’ doctrine, and how did it affect racial segregation in the United States?

The 'separate but equal' doctrine was established in 1896 by the Supreme Court, allowing racial segregation as long as services were equal. This led to widespread segregation across the country, though in reality, services for African Americans were often far inferior to those for whites.

How did World War II influence the civil rights movement in the United States?

World War II acted as a catalyst for the civil rights movement. African American soldiers who fought overseas experienced greater racial integration in Europe and returned home determined to push for racial equality and challenge segregation, leading to the growth of civil rights activism.

Outlines

00:00

🌟 The Dream of America

The paragraph discusses the historical context of European exploration and settlement in the Americas, starting with Christopher Columbus in 1492. It highlights the initial motivations of Europeans seeking abundant wealth and opportunities in the New World. The Spanish were the first to establish a permanent settlement in Florida, followed by the French and then the British. The British settlers, who were mostly men of leisure, struggled to sustain their colony in Jamestown until they discovered the profitability of growing tobacco. This discovery led to the colony's growth and set a precedent for future British settlements. The paragraph also touches on the arrival of the first African slaves in Jamestown in 1619, marking the beginning of slavery in America. It points out the inherent contradiction in the U.S. Constitution's declaration that 'all men are created equal' while women, indigenous populations, and enslaved Africans were excluded from this equality. The paragraph concludes by noting that modern America, a powerful democracy, was built on the labor of slaves.

05:00

🔥 The Tipping Point: Slavery and the Civil War

This section delves into the escalating tensions over slavery leading up to the U.S. Civil War. Abraham Lincoln's election as president, his moral opposition to slavery, and the South's fear of emancipation are highlighted. The South's response was to form the Confederate States of America, leading to the Civil War. The war was not only about slavery but also about the preservation of the Union. The Emancipation Proclamation by Lincoln was a strategic wartime measure that declared slaves in Confederate states to be free, and it encouraged them to join the Union army. The war ended with the Union's victory and the passage of the 13th Amendment, which abolished slavery. However, the amendment left unresolved questions about the nature of the freedom and rights of the newly emancipated slaves.

10:02

📚 The Struggle for Equality: Segregation and the KKK

The paragraph discusses the period of racial segregation in the U.S., particularly after the Civil War. It describes the 'separate but equal' doctrine that was established by the Supreme Court in 1896, which led to widespread racial segregation across the country. The paragraph highlights the humiliation and degradation faced by African Americans under segregation, including the banning of interracial marriage and the creation of separate facilities for whites and blacks. It also discusses the rise of the Ku Klux Klan, a white supremacist terrorist organization that used violence and intimidation to maintain white dominance. The paragraph emphasizes the psychological impact of this era on African Americans and the resistance they faced in exercising their constitutional rights.

15:04

🚌 Rosa Parks and the Civil Rights Movement

This section focuses on the Civil Rights Movement, beginning with Rosa Parks' refusal to give up her bus seat in Montgomery, Alabama, which sparked the Montgomery Bus Boycott. The boycott led to the desegregation of public buses and catapulted Martin Luther King Jr. into a leadership role. King's philosophy of non-violent protest is highlighted, as well as the student sit-ins that aimed to integrate public spaces in the South. The paragraph culminates with the March on Washington in 1963, where King delivered his famous 'I Have a Dream' speech, critiquing the slow progress of racial equality in the U.S. The following year, the Civil Rights Act was passed, ending racial segregation, and the Voting Rights Act was passed the next year, securing African Americans' right to vote. The paragraph concludes by reflecting on the long journey from the arrival of the first slaves to the significant legislative changes that began to address racial inequality.

Keywords

💡Christopher Columbus

Christopher Columbus was an Italian explorer who completed four voyages across the Atlantic Ocean, opening the way for widespread European exploration and the eventual conquest of the Americas. In the video, Columbus is mentioned as the figure who 'first caught sight of the New World,' symbolizing the beginning of European colonization and the pursuit of new opportunities in the Americas.

💡New World

The term 'New World' refers to the Americas, particularly in the context of European colonization. It represents the discovery and exploration of new lands by Europeans, which led to the establishment of colonies and the subsequent shaping of the modern United States. The video discusses how the 'New World' was seen as a land of plenty and opportunity by European settlers.

💡Slavery

Slavery is the state of being the legal property of another person and being forced to obey their commands. In the video, slavery is a central theme, highlighting its role in the economic growth of the United States and its moral contradictions. The script mentions the arrival of the first African slaves in Jamestown in 1619, marking the beginning of slavery in America.

💡Jamestown

Jamestown is the first permanent English settlement in the Americas, established in 1607 in what is now Virginia. The video uses Jamestown as an example of the early English colonization efforts and the beginning of tobacco cultivation, which led to the economic success of the colony.

💡Tobacco

Tobacco is a product that was cultivated and traded extensively in the early American colonies. The video mentions tobacco as a crop that saved the Jamestown colony from failure, as it became a valuable commodity for trade and helped establish the economic foundation of the colony.

💡Cotton

Cotton is a soft, fluffy staple fiber that grows in a boll around the seeds of the cotton plant. The video discusses the shift from tobacco to cotton plantations in the South as the demand for cotton grew in America and Europe. Cotton became a major driver of the slave economy in the 19th century.

💡Confederate States of America

The Confederate States of America was a group of 11 Southern slave states that declared secession from the United States and formed their own government during the American Civil War. The video describes the formation of the Confederacy as a response to the fear of the abolition of slavery and the protection of their economy based on slave labor.

💡Civil War

The American Civil War was a conflict fought from 1861 to 1865 between the Northern United States (the Union) and the Southern Confederate States. The video highlights the Civil War as a pivotal event in American history, where the issue of slavery was central to the conflict and ultimately led to its abolition.

💡Emancipation Proclamation

The Emancipation Proclamation was a presidential proclamation issued by President Abraham Lincoln in 1863, declaring that all slaves in Confederate-held territory were to be set free. The video describes the Emancipation Proclamation as a wartime measure that allowed former slaves to join the Union army and fight for their own freedom.

💡13th Amendment

The 13th Amendment to the United States Constitution abolished slavery and involuntary servitude, except as punishment for a crime. The video mentions the 13th Amendment as a landmark moment that legally ended slavery in the United States, marking a significant step towards freedom for African Americans.

💡Rosa Parks

Rosa Parks was an African American civil rights activist whose refusal to give up her bus seat to a white person in Montgomery, Alabama, in 1955 sparked the Montgomery Bus Boycott. The video presents Rosa Parks as a symbol of resistance against racial segregation and a key figure in the Civil Rights Movement.

💡Martin Luther King Jr.

Martin Luther King Jr. was an American Baptist minister and civil rights activist who became the most visible spokesperson and leader in the civil rights movement from 1955 until his assassination in 1968. The video emphasizes King's role in advocating nonviolent civil disobedience and his famous 'I Have a Dream' speech, which became a defining moment in the fight for racial equality.

💡Civil Rights Act

The Civil Rights Act of 1964 is a landmark civil rights and labor law in the United States that outlawed discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, or national origin. The video discusses the Civil Rights Act as a legislative achievement that ended nearly a century of racial segregation and advanced the cause of civil rights for African Americans.

Highlights

In 1492, Christopher Columbus catches sight of the New World, marking the beginning of European exploration and settlement in America.

The British establish their first permanent colony in Jamestown, Virginia, in 1607, and its survival was due to the discovery of tobacco cultivation.

In 1619, the first African slaves arrive in Jamestown, starting America's long history of slavery.

Slavery plays a major role in building America's wealth, with millions of bales of cotton being traded globally in the 19th century.

By 1860, the U.S. had a slave population of nearly four million, with the collective value of slaves exceeding the combined value of all the country's railroads and factories.

The North became more industrialized and saw slavery as outdated, while tensions over slavery intensified in the South, leading to the Civil War.

Abraham Lincoln issues the Emancipation Proclamation in 1863, declaring all slaves in rebellion states as free and encouraging them to join the Union army.

The 13th Amendment, passed in 1865, officially abolished slavery, but many challenges remained regarding what freedom for African Americans would look like.

Reconstruction efforts after the Civil War aimed to secure rights for former slaves but were undermined by Southern resistance and the rise of white supremacist groups like the Ku Klux Klan.

In 1896, the Supreme Court's 'separate but equal' doctrine legalized racial segregation, leading to widespread division and inequality across the United States.

African American soldiers in World War II were exposed to less racially divided societies abroad, inspiring many to push for civil rights reforms upon their return to the U.S.

Rosa Parks' refusal to give up her seat in 1955 sparked the Montgomery Bus Boycott, a pivotal moment in the civil rights movement.

Martin Luther King Jr.'s philosophy of non-violent protest became a cornerstone of the civil rights movement, drawing national attention and driving change.

The 1963 March on Washington, where King delivered his 'I Have a Dream' speech, was a key moment in the fight for civil rights, leading to the Civil Rights Act of 1964.

The Voting Rights Act of 1965 guaranteed African Americans the right to vote, marking a significant victory in the long struggle for racial equality in America.

Transcripts

fast forward to 1492

when christopher columbus first caught

sight of the new world

they were seeking fabled promised lands

of plenty

where everything would just you know run

free and there would be this abundant

wealth just waiting for them as

europeans

mastered the oceans others sailed in

columbus's wake

for generations you have people crossing

the atlantic

from europe who are dreaming of america

and the life it might give

the spanish were the first to establish

a permanent settlement

in what we now know as florida

the french soon followed but the british

were in hot pursuit

the first english men settled in what

they saw as the new world in north

america

in 1607 some who saw themselves as

adventurers

they settled the colony of jamestown

in present-day virginia given that they

were

men of leisure generally they didn't

have the

skills or the knowledge to make a colony

survive

in about a decade 80 percent had

perished

and just at the point when it was

looking like britain's

first north american settlement

was gonna fail they find that they can

grow tobacco

and all of a sudden that colony begins

to boom and grow

this first british colony opened a

gateway to a new life

the first settlers had this sort of

image of themselves as

people who were fleeing the old world

and they were building this shining city

on a hill that was going to be a beacon

to the rest of humanity everybody can

live their dream

this is a land full of opportunities and

that's such

a shaping influence on the united states

the first african slaves came into the

jamestown colony

in 1619 that first ship

carried around 20 slaves and therein

really begins the history of slavery in

america

george washington was a slave owner

thomas jefferson third president was a

slave owner

the phrase from the constitution is all

men are created equal

and it's there that we see the first

inherent

contradiction women are excluded the

indigenous population is excluded

enslaved africans are also excluded

that refusal to recognize the essential

humanity of black people

runs right the way through american

history

the america we know today one of the

richest most powerful democracies in the

world

was built on the backs of slaves

[Music]

if you want to become a world

power you can't go too far wrong by

integrating a program of almost

limitless free labor

[Music]

in the 17th and 18th centuries african

slaves mainly worked on the tobacco

plantations in the south

but by the early 19th century this had

given way to cotton plantations

as huge demand for cotton grew in

america

and europe they're trading by the

mid-19th century

in the millions of bales every year and

to actually

meet that global demand there is an

increased demand

for slave labor it's an economic system

as well

it's actually going to in many ways

drive the destiny of the country

the property value of slaves increases

too those who are seen as healthy and

fit

are considered prized possessions a

slave economy

is what enables america to really begin

to build the extraordinary wealth that

it still benefits from

today by 1860 america's slave population

had reached nearly

four million resulting in an incredible

explosion of the country's financial

power

the collective wealth held in america's

four million african-american slaves was

roughly

three billion dollars which was more

than the combined value of

all the railroads and the factories in

the country combined

slavery was deeply entrenched in the

south

but in the north it was a different

story

the north becomes increasingly

mechanized um you see the emergence of a

factory system

you have an increasingly industrialized

north there's less

need for as many physical hands

the north do see a slave-based economy

as

part of the past it's not where america

is moving

by 1860 tensions over slavery had

reached a fever pitch

and things escalated further when

abraham lincoln was elected president

lincoln was morally opposed to slavery

the white south fear that he will use

his power to bring about the

emancipation of the slaves and the

destruction of their entire way of life

this is the point of no return convinced

that the government

would do all in its power to abolish

slavery and sever the institution that

drove their booming economy

states broke away from the north

together they form a new country the

confederate states of america

has its own currency its own government

and they make

a new flag a confederate flag

for the united states these individuals

are traitors

they have torn the union apart

the civil war had begun

it would embroil america in a deadly

battle

bringing into doubt its very survival

the question of slavery will now be

settled

in what became the nation's bloodiest

war

there is no doubt that slavery was the

fundamental cause of the war

but the abolition of slavery was not

lincoln's priority that was preservation

of

the union the nation in world historical

terms isn't even a toddler yet

right and so the idea that it could in

fact

be riven by this ideological debate

is what lincoln and many others are

desperate to avoid

britain and france were ready to

recognize the southern confederate

states

as a separate nation lincoln had to act

in january 1863 he issues

the emancipation proclamation

this legislation declared that all

slaves in active rebellion against the

union

shall be then thenceforward and forever

free he's saying

those individuals who are now free

you can come and join the union and you

can fight

for us this proclamation was a wartime

measure it's a war tactic

nearly 200 000 african americans would

answer the call to fight against the

south

enslaved african-americans will now

fight

for their own freedom the civil war was

the deadliest conflict in america in

history

it was brutal it was it was horrific

after four years of savage conflict the

civil war

finally ended in 1865.

the union had been saved and in a

landmark moment

the government passed the 13th amendment

which abolished slavery

the 13th amendment is the teeth to the

emancipation proclamation

the abolition of slavery is

monumental they were no longer bound

by the condition of their mothers to a

life of enslavement in perpetuity

finally those famous words that all men

are created equal

may finally actually be fulfilled

the 13th amendment ensured that african

americans would be

forever free but what it didn't answer

was this

set of thorny questions about what that

freedom would actually look like

we now have four million more free

individuals in the united states

so what are we going to do how do we

rebuild

in 1896 america tried to answer that

question

but their answer would lead to yet more

division

inequality and bloodshed

after the civil war the united states

enters into a period of about

10 12 years called the period of

reconstruction

so reconstruction is a partially

successful

experiment in securing

newfound rights to former slaves but

it comes to an end prematurely because

of white southerners determination to

restore

their dominion over the south

the south lost the war but the ideology

of white supremacy was not dislodged

and so they fight to make sure that the

south

remains under the rule of white

supremacy

okay we're all equal

but the races do need to remain separate

so the doctrine was known as separate

but equal

they needed that

racial hierarchy they needed that to be

written into the law

and they did in 1896

a landmark case made racial segregation

the law of the land

for the whole of the united states

the supreme court say if services are

offered

equally it doesn't matter if they're

racially segregated

so you actually see a mushrooming of

laws across the north and the south that

begins to

separate and partition the united states

one world for white individuals another

world

for black individuals and it

covers everything that you can think of

interracial marriage is banned

you cannot work together you cannot eat

together we would have a black school

and a white school and we'd have one

carriage in a railway car

and nine where white people could sit

what i'm getting at here is that it was

never equal and so racial inequality

finds new life

segregation to the average negro means

being held back

he wants to move forward in the american

mainstream

segregation holds him back

[Music]

america was now brutally divided along

racial lines

racial segregation was humiliating

and degrading you were not one of those

individuals

who lived in the land of the free all of

this would have

an enormous psychological effect on on

the african-american population

partly because if you fell foul

of particular laws um the consequences

would be dire intimidation

and violence were used to prevent

african americans going about their

everyday lives

and even from exercising their

constitutional right

to vote you could be beaten your house

could be burned down

you could be lynched these are sadistic

forms of violence

it's not just the physical oppressions

the psychological oppression

that the threat of the violence was this

long

shadow cast over african americans that

conditioned

their every move in public

the most ruthless and notorious

organization that rose up during this

period

was the ku klux klan who unleashed a

reign of terror on the black communities

the ku klux klan is a terrorist

organization

the mission of the clan was the

preservation

of white people at the top of a racial

the mayor here hierarchy he refused to

negotiate the racial issue with the

members of the class

that we would start an economic boycott

against this city

[Applause]

the clan actually reaches its greatest

power in the 1920s

when it has several million followers

it's so

powerful that its members are able to

march

publicly on the streets of washington dc

in front of the nation's capital

with white supremacist organizations

like the kkk

and racial segregation enforced

throughout the country

equality seemed impossible

world war ii is yet another

turning point in this story of

african-american freedom

during the war 125 000

african american soldiers were sent

abroad to fight

and what they encountered while serving

sparked a revolution

the experience of being stationed

overseas is

a moment of enlightenment for many

african-american soldiers

be they stationed in britain or france

or

italy they experienced greater

interaction between the races

they fought the war to liberate europe

and yet they were returning home to a

country

that didn't bestow the same kind of

rights and privileges to people of color

many veterans when they return home seek

to push

for racial change and reform they

initiate the double v

campaign we will fight fascism abroad

and we will also fight racism at home

really the precursor to what we'll see

in the civil rights movement in the 50s

and 60s

an event on the 5th of december 1955

in montgomery alabama would become the

critical moment

in this burgeoning movement rosa parks

decided on that day in december that she

would not give up her seat on the bus as

was required by

racial segregation laws she was arrested

and taken to jail and the

outcry in the black community that

such a well-known and dignified woman

had been jailed sparked the montgomery

bus boycott

for over a year african americans

refused to use the buses

in montgomery and they actually bankrupt

the company

forcing them to come to the table to

negotiate

and to finally end practices of racial

segregation

on the buses rosa parks became known as

the mother of the civil rights movement

and the montgomery bus boycott would

also place young pastor martin luther

king

at the front and center

[Music]

martin luther king is the icon of the

civil rights movement

you had a way to connect with the nation

to tell the nation that you are not

living up to what

you defined yourselves to be we will no

longer sell our birthright of freedom

for the mess of segregated pottage

the reason that he's so iconic

is because of his philosophy of

non-violence

it's an extraordinary radical move to

say we're going to

fight this injustice without

violence so that contrast becomes

very very powerful

unlike the civil war just a century

earlier peaceful protest would form the

bedrock of the entire movement

which exploded in 1960

students bring a figure and an intensity

that hasn't quite been witnessed before

the student sit-ins are simply an

attempt

to secure integrated seating at lunch

counters

across the south they begin to occupy

spaces where they are told you are not

allowed to be

and they say we're here and we're going

to stay

people would pour drinks over their

heads they were being told to sit

quietly to not retaliate to do nothing

they are engaging in acts of non-violent

civil disobedience these students are

actually

breaking the law on february 27

80 nashville students were arrested out

of over 300.

this is a new radical phase of protest

that willing

to peacefully defy laws that they can

withstand the worst

that the white power structure can throw

at them it's that

sharper-edged protest that will bring

about the civil rights revolution of the

1960s

[Music]

by the late summer of 1963 more than 200

000 people marched on washington

[Music]

they gathered by the lincoln memorial

the very place where just four decades

ago

the kkk had been allowed to protest

their aim to push through civil rights

legislation

and establish job equality for all

i am happy to join with you today

in what will go down as the greatest

demonstration

for freedom in the history of our nation

it's at that protest in washington the

king standing on the steps of the

lincoln memorial delivers his most

famous speech you know the i have a

dream oration

but that speech is far more than a dream

it's actually a critique of the united

states

he's actually addressing the nation

on the 100th anniversary of the

emancipation proclamation

are african-americans free a hundred

years later

after abraham lincoln first said yes

you are free martin luther king says

no the nation has not lived up to that

promise

[Music]

martin luther king really understood the

potential of the united states

and he pushed the united states to live

up to what the founding fathers saw for

the nation

the following year the civil rights act

was signed into law

ending nearly a century of racial

segregation

and the voting act guaranteeing african

americans the right to exercise their

vote was passed 12 months later

it had taken over three centuries since

the arrival of the first slaves in

jamestown

to finally address the deep-seated

problems that had blighted america

you