Inspired by the democratic ideals of the American Revolution, African Americans worked vigorously in the decades following America’s birth to gain a similar liberation for themselves, but as new technologies expanded the southern economy. The obvious need for expansion of slavery in the South undermined the efforts of free black northerners and slaves themselves. In the South slaves were focused on obtaining their freedom by practical means such as buying their freedom or just rebelling. The free black focused more on the reasons for the necessity of freedom such as their pride in the revolution, African heritage, and Christian values to help guide them towards advocating a moral need for slavery’s end. Slaves in the south longed to be freed
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However, they were primarily motivated by the ideals of the American revolution, and sought freedom for their brethren and acceptance into society. Paul Cuffe’s petition in 1780 powerfully describes the yearning desire to have the same political powers as the whites, especially because of the service given by the African Americans in the war. Promoting a sense of racial justice and combating the ideas of slavery, free blacks added moral power to their arguments. David Walker, in his Appeal to the Colored Citizens of the World, describes the determination of blacks to gain their freedom and obtain rights of free men in America. This sense of willpower gave their argument a stronger, albeit more abstract, feel. Faced with merely segregation as described by Prince Hall and Hosen Easton, and not actual bondage. Northern African Americans found more meaning in their arguments to take pride in their race and culture. One expression of such arguments was described by the Vermont Colonization Society, advocating for the creation of colonies in Africa for blacks to “return” to. Though Liberia, with its capital Monrovia, was established, this idea never really took hold. However, Northern blacks impacted the slavery argument, as their abstract ideals and morality, inspired by the Revolution and the Bible, led them to speak out in many ways against Southern
However, they were primarily motivated by the ideals of the American revolution, and sought freedom for their brethren and acceptance into society. Paul Cuffe’s petition in 1780 powerfully describes the yearning desire to have the same political powers as the whites, especially because of the service given by the African Americans in the war. Promoting a sense of racial justice and combating the ideas of slavery, free blacks added moral power to their arguments. David Walker, in his Appeal to the Colored Citizens of the World, describes the determination of blacks to gain their freedom and obtain rights of free men in America. This sense of willpower gave their argument a stronger, albeit more abstract, feel. Faced with merely segregation as described by Prince Hall and Hosen Easton, and not actual bondage. Northern African Americans found more meaning in their arguments to take pride in their race and culture. One expression of such arguments was described by the Vermont Colonization Society, advocating for the creation of colonies in Africa for blacks to “return” to. Though Liberia, with its capital Monrovia, was established, this idea never really took hold. However, Northern blacks impacted the slavery argument, as their abstract ideals and morality, inspired by the Revolution and the Bible, led them to speak out in many ways against Southern