(For more info go to http://www.ctfreedomtrail.org/trail/underground-railroad/about/)
These people that wanted the freedom for their fellow man so badly were called abolitionists. These people varied between gender and skin color but their purpose was all the same, they wanted freedom. Not for themselves, they wanted it for the people that were being kept as slaves. While all of their methods might not have been acceptable to many of the people that had slaves or people that were not as extremist as the abolitionists they did manage to help many slaves.
These people that wanted the freedom for their fellow man so badly were called abolitionists. These people varied between gender and skin color but their purpose was all the same, they wanted freedom. Not for themselves, they wanted it for the people that were being kept as slaves. While all of their methods might not have been acceptable to many of the people that had slaves or people that were not as extremist as the abolitionists they did manage to help many slaves.
“On June 28, 1839, the Spanish ship La Amistad left a port in Havana, Cuba with 49 men, 1 boy and 3 girls kidnapped from Mendeland, Africa, modern-day Sierra Leone. They were being taken to Puerto Principe, Cuba for a lifetime of slavery. Before the ship reached its destination, the Mende Africans seized control and forced the Spanish owners to sail towards Africa, using the sun as a guide. At night, however, the owners sailed northward, hoping to come ashore in a Southern slave state in America. Instead, the ship entered the waters of Long Island Sound where the U.S. Navy took it into custody. The vessel was towed into New London harbor and moored at Lawrence Wharf, near the U.S. Custom House.
The Mende Africans were eventually placed in jail in New Haven while their fate became a major legal case that took two years to resolve. Although the primary issue was whether the Mende Africans were to be considered slaves or free, the long process led the public’s attention to focus on the rights of African Americans in the United States and on moral, social, religious, diplomatic and political questions. Former President John Quincy Adams successfully defended the Mende Africans before the U.S. Supreme Court, and in February 1841, they were declared free.
In March 1841, the Mende Africans were sent to Farmington to live while funds were raised for their return home to Sierra Leone, Africa. In November, the 37 surviving Mende Africans sailed towards their homeland as free individuals. Along with them were five missionaries who were sent under the auspices of the newly formed Union Missionary Society, a forerunner of the American Missionary Association. The group reached Sierra Leone in January 1842.” (Connecticut Freedom Trail)
This story talks about Mende Africans that took over a ship that had captured four of its own people. They eventually landed in New York where they were arrested. The supreme Court had to decide whether or not to allow them to be free men and send them back to Africa or to put them in slavery. They eventually were declared free and allowed to return home. This story particularly shows that people in the higher positions of power are beginning to look at slavery as something that should not be allowed and understand their rights and responsibilities as a citizen.
Slavery in Connecticut relates to the theme of rights and responsibilities of citizens because of the slow abolitionist movement from before the legal outlawing of slavery. There were many Africans free in the state of Connecticut before 1848 when it was outlawed. We see how white citizens have their opinions cane about the rights of black citizens through the effort to abolish slavery.
Slavery in Connecticut relates to the theme of rights and responsibilities of citizens because of the slow abolitionist movement from before the legal outlawing of slavery. There were many Africans free in the state of Connecticut before 1848 when it was outlawed. We see how white citizens have their opinions cane about the rights of black citizens through the effort to abolish slavery.
Facts on CT Slaves
Slavery was originally created in Connecticut by the Connecticut Code of 1650
Slavery was abolished in Connecticut in 1848, although many were freed long before that
There are small communities like Little Liberia created by free slaves all over the northeast United States, including many in Connecticut, New York, and Rhode Island
Little Liberia was formed to keep whites out, and create an economy of its own
Little Liberia was also founded by people of what are presumed to be of the same Family ; the Freemans
Slavery was abolished in Connecticut in 1848, although many were freed long before that
There are small communities like Little Liberia created by free slaves all over the northeast United States, including many in Connecticut, New York, and Rhode Island
Little Liberia was formed to keep whites out, and create an economy of its own
Little Liberia was also founded by people of what are presumed to be of the same Family ; the Freemans