Black Efforts Towards the Gradual Emancipation Act of 1799
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Black Efforts Toward the Gradual Emancipation Act of 1799 in New York
African American’s first legal sight of freedom came in 1799 with the Gradual Emancipation of slaves that were born on or after 1799. Many whites against slavery helped with their efforts in bring the Gradual Emancipation’s approval. The Quakers were the first to help the slaves fight for freedom. The New York Manumission Society contributed the most for the emancipation of slaves, but let’s not give all the credit to the whites. Black efforts undeniably helped in the process of gradually abolishing slavery as well.
Slaves first and foremost effort at freedom came from attempting to flee. Blacks have been running away from their masters since their introduction into slavery. Fleeing and escaping was a way of representing a statement of freedom far before any of the antislavery organizations were formed. Running away was an affective means for challenging the institution of slavery. Slaves were a major asset to farmers and the cost of them running away could severely hurt the owners financially. Summer was the most frequent time for slaves to flee because that is when labor was the hardest and most frequent. Runaway slaves learned about life through knowledge and experience in New York during their quests for freedom.
Later came a more frightening form of rebellion than running away. When people meet in groups ideas can be formed, beliefs can be shared, feelings can be expressed, problems can be brought to attention, and solutions can be agreed upon. Within Black meetings it was no different. Slaves’ social places could lead to good ideas for them and bad for whites. These meetings not only allowed blacks to socialize with one another, but to also assert leadership skills and form alliances.
White slave holders knew this and tried to limit their group size. Between 1681 and 1683 the Common Council in New York limited blacks to congregating in groups no larger than four. By 1700 it was changed and slaves couldn’t meet in groups larger than three.
Meetings among free blacks and slaves helped what resulted in the 1712 Slave Revolt in Manhattan, which was more dreaded than individual acts of resistance. This was the first major slave revolt on the Anglo-American mainland. This frightening threat happened at 2 A.m. on April 1712, when a group of twenty-four slaves gathered with weapons and began to set fires to houses and buildings. With most houses and buildings being built of wood arson became an important weapon among slaves. When whites arrived to extinguish the flames, the blacks were there waiting to ambush them, killing nine whites and injuring seven of them. British troops along with New York militia moved in quickly and outnumbered the rebels. The rebels had failed to bring other slaves out from hiding and help them once the rebellion had started. Their plan for revolt failed miserably and after seventy arrests and an investigation, twenty-six were convicted and as many as twenty-one were executed.
After the 1712 revolt, the government increased regulations and restrictions on groups. Punishments became more severe and frequent. Slave owners also tried to ban slaves, free blacks, and whites from meeting. Whites weren’t allowed to entertain blacks or sell them alcohol, which had been common in some taverns in the past.
Wartime came about between the British loyalists and American patriots; this encouraged certain types of slave resistance and formed hardships for masters. Opportunities for running away in New York increased during the war. With many men going off to fight, their households were left to the women who couldn’t successfully control their slaves. Also, the British claimed to let any slave be freed after they contributed to the war on the British side.
Throughout America, thousands of blacks looked for ways to reach Tory lines and join the British in their fight. In 1775, Lord Dunmore, promised freedom after the war to any slave who fought for the British. However, this claim only applied to male slaves. This offer was later expanded to any slave who abandoned the rebel side. With this in consideration, tens of thousands of slaves joined the British side during the war.
The British occupied New York in 1776 and it became a center for blacks from all over the colonies seeking freedom. This multiplying number helped the British with the need for labor, but also alarmed them. Whether fleeing to the British side or staying loyal to the American rebels, blacks expected freedom and equality after their service was given. By the end of the war, many blacks that served o the British side were relocated and attained liberty through traveling to British territories. Between three and four thousand blacks left New York through its port for these British