Slavery in New York at the beginning of the 17th century

Diploma Thesis , 2015 , 49 Pages , Grade: A

History - America

The objective of this thesis is to present the issue of slavery in the New York colony from the Dutch rule at the beginning of 17th century through English domination and American Revolutionary War. Its aim is also to present a struggle of progressive white New York citizens and black enslaved for full emancipation. For most of its history, New York has been the largest, most ethnically diverse, and most economically expansive city in the North American colonies. It was also the headquarter of American slavery for more than two hundred years. During the American Revolutionary War, the British army occupied New York City in 1776. The Crown promised freedom to slaves who left rebel masters . By 1780, 10,000 black slaves lived in New York. After the American Revolution, the New York Manumission Society was founded in 1785 to work for the abolition of slavery and for assistance to free blacks. The state passed a 1799 law for gradual abolition; after that date, children born to slave mothers were free but required to work an extended period as indentured servants into their twenties. Existing slaves kept their status. All remaining slaves were finally freed on July 4, 1827.

Table of Contents

• Chapter 1. Slavery - definition and historical background..
  • 1.1. Preliminary remarks
  • 1.2. Slavery attempt at definition.
  • 1.3. The development of slavery
    • 1.3.1. The African slave trade
    • 1.3.2. Unfree labor in the North American colonies
    • 1.3.3. Slavery and capitalism
  • 1.4. Slavery and human rights—the emancipation movement.
• Chapter 2. The specific character of the New York state.
  • 2.1. Preliminary remarks.
  • 2.2. Slavery in the New York state in the colonial times..
  • 2.3 New York as the biggest slavery state in the North..
  • 2.3. Prohibiting the sale of slaves and gradual emancipation...........
• Chapter 3. Abolition and emancipation movement.
  • 3.1. Preliminary remarks
  • 3.2. The New York Manumission Society.
  • 3.3. John Jay – a leader of antislavery movement.
  • 3.4. The failure of gradual emancipation and its reasons

Objectives and Key Themes

This thesis explores the institution of slavery in the New York colony, encompassing its development from the Dutch rule in the early 17th century through the English domination and the American Revolutionary War. It also delves into the struggles of progressive white New Yorkers and enslaved black individuals for complete emancipation.

• The historical evolution of slavery in New York, from its initial introduction to its eventual abolition.
• The impact of the American Revolution on slavery in New York, including the role of the British Crown.
• The rise of the abolitionist movement in New York and its efforts to end slavery.
• The complexities of gradual emancipation in New York and its limitations.
• The significance of New York City as a focal point for both slavery and the fight for freedom.

Chapter Summaries

Chapter 1 provides a definition of slavery and traces its historical trajectory, examining its evolution across different societies and epochs. The chapter highlights the unique characteristics of slavery in the context of European colonial powers and underscores the interconnectedness of slavery with the development of global capitalism. Chapter 2 focuses on the specific features of slavery within the New York colony, exploring its prevalence during the colonial era and its continued presence throughout the early stages of the United States.

Keywords

The primary keywords and focal points of this work include the Dutch colony, New York seaport, slavery, American Revolution, manumission movements, gradual emancipation, and full emancipation.

• College: Warsaw University (Applied Linguistics)
• Course: V
• Grade: A
• Author: MA Sylwia Mazur (Author)
• Publication Year: 2015
• Pages: 49
• Catalog Number: V368512
• ISBN (eBook): 9783668471351
• ISBN (Book): 9783668471368
• Language: English
• Tags: Duch colony, New York seaport, slavery, American Revolution, manumission movements, gradual emancipation, full emancipation