History:
Fighting Slavery

Not all Africans that survived this journey lost their cultural heritage. In many cases their ethnic background was known both to them and to the society in which they were thrust. People who had belonged to the same ethnic group in Africa - Ibos, or Coramantees, for example - often arrived in the Americas on the same ship, or within a short time of one another. While many families were torn apart by the trade, others took comfort from comrades or neighbors in the same plight as themselves.

King of Bar, near Gorée, with musicians*

Despite the fact that these people never intended to colonize new lands, African Americans became one of the most significant ethnic groups on both American continents. Although they came with no possessions, they brought what they could of their culture with them and passed it on to future generations. These included art styles that became folk art: fine art crafts; and above all, music.

African musician demonstrating the Marimba**

African musician demonstrating the Marimba de Cafri or "thumb piano"***

Abolition in England

By the 18th century, England had an enormous stake in the slave trade. Huge amounts of capital were generated by successful voyages, and much of the start-up funding for the Industrial Revolution came indirectly from this source. Meanwhile, those who did not have a stake in the trade grew increasingly uncomfortably with its reputation.

The slave deck of the bark Wildfire, brought into Key West, FL., 1860
After the British abolished their participation in the maritime slave trade they undertook the policing of the seas near their colonies in the Caribbean and elsewhere. They would capture slaving vessels, return the captives to Africa and sell the slaving vessels to pay for their costs.****

During the Industrial Revolution, England moved away from relying on colonial produce towards a focus on manufactured English goods for export. It was perhaps this shift in the economy that allows the abolitionists to win over the powerful merchants in the British parliament. New avenues of profit had opened, and the need for the slave trade had decreased.

Portuguese slave brig captured off the coast of Africa, 1887*****

...that All Men are Created Equal

The rights of Africans and other people of color eroded during the 18th century and slavery hardened into an institution during the 19th century. As this occurred, resistance to slavery increased among both African and European Americans. The Quakers, for example, who had been slave holders in the past, finally realized how cruel and unethical their behavior was. They held one of the first anti-slavery rallies in Philadelphia in 1787.

Harriet Tubman born 1820, she escaped from slavery in 1848. After her own flight she felt a responsibility to help others escape. Between 1849-1859 she made 19 trips back to the South to bring others out. The regularity of these trips and her network of friends of both  African and European decent became known as the "Underground Railroad."******

Toussaint L"Ouverture After the French Revolution, L'Ouverture expected the French government of Haiti to free all slaves. When this had not occurred by 1791, L'Ouverture led a successful rebellion. A brilliant leader and tactician, L'Ouverture maintained his own government of the island until Napoleon sent 25,000 troops to recapture it.*******

Landowners whose crops were labor intensive clung to slavery despite the growing tension between them and those who favored abolition. This tension was among the factors that led to the Civil War, in which many African Americans fought alongside those of European heritage in order to free people who were still enslaved. When Abraham Lincoln signed the document that made all remaining slaves free, he put into practice ideals that thousands of people had worked and died for for centuries.

Nat Turner inspires his men.
Aware that freedom might require desperate means, Nat Turner escaped slavery by killing his master's family. In 1831 he led a guerilla army whose intention it was to free all the slaves in the South. Their war was with the slave owners, whom they killed in order to secure freedom for those still enslaved. This was the most serious slave revolt in North America.********

Africans Oppose the Trade in Africa

Among the earliest opponents was King Affonso of the Congo, a baptized Christian. He wrote to the King of Portugal and to the Pope to complain that although Africa had many potential exports, the only thing Europeans seemed to want was slaves. He blamed the Portuguese for tempting traders to sell people.

Baptism of King Affonso.*********

In 1727, the King of Dahomy attacked a slave trading town on the west coast of Africa and captured an Englishman whom he sent back to Europe carrying a message that said that his people would "sell themselves on condition of not being carried away." Unfortunately, the English wanted slaves for the American colonies and were not interested in owning slaves in West Africa. But records show that in the years following the incident slaving did decline in Dahomy's ports.

Africans lament the loss of their fellow countrymen.**********

In 1787, the King of Senegal tried to make a stand against slavery, refusing to allow any slaves to be brought to the coast through his territories. The French traders, who were waiting for deliveries of slaves, persuaded their old allies, the Moors, to attack Senegal and engage the King in a brutal war. The Moors defeated the King and his brave effort failed.

*Courtesy of Musée de L'Orient et de la Compagnie des Indes
**Courtesy of the Library of Congress
***Courtesy of the Library of Congress
****Courtesy Northwind Archive
*****Courtesy Northwind Archives
******Courtesy of the Schomburg Archive
*******Courtesy of the Mansell Collection
********Courtesy of the Granger Collection
*********J.G. Stedman, Narrative of a five years' expediation against the revolted negroes of Surinam...from the year 1772-1777, Volume I
**********J.A. Chambon: Traite generale du Commerce de l'Amerique par Marseilles