Kalen Morgan
Post Journal Entry for New York Burning
1) In what ways did slavery shape society, politics, and law in 18th century New York? Explain.
“We seem to be easier as to the Thoughts of the Negroes.”
-Zenger’s Weekly Journal, July 27, 1740 (pg. 192) In 1735, William Cosby named Daniel Horsmanden New York’s city recorder (pg. 30) and then Horsmanden put on his robe as a judge in the Supreme Court in 1741. (pg.63) In 1737, the Common Council of New York constituted “Negro Law”, a law that stated “no Negro, Mullatto or Indian Slave, shall appear in the streets of this city above an hour after sun-set without a Candle and Lanthorn, on penalty of being whipt at the publick whipping post.” (pg. 57)
After multiple fires had been set to various buildings in New York within a few weeks apart, slaves were automatically accused and were the primary suspects. (pg. 60) Whether or not it was a conspiracy due to the previous fires in 1736, (pg. 56-57) panic swept the streets of New York. It’s irrefutable that the fires set in New York was due to the whites’ racist ideals and paranoiac prejudice of African …show more content…
The text referred to Peggy Kerry as a “Negro Peg” for crossing racial lines. (pg. 156) Other terms that caught my attention were “negro plot, negro law, and negro election day”. It’s very eye opening to see how other human beings were completely divided to the point where they had to add the term “negro” to the beginning of every term to show the separation. A lot of people are aware of common things in slavery like separate homes, food, and privilege, but knowing even words to describe slaves were separate is unreal. Slaves were treated as a completely different and less-equal species. This text very much expanded my knowledge of slave experiences in America. I didn’t realize the extent that these groups were treated as
Post Journal Entry for New York Burning
1) In what ways did slavery shape society, politics, and law in 18th century New York? Explain.
“We seem to be easier as to the Thoughts of the Negroes.”
-Zenger’s Weekly Journal, July 27, 1740 (pg. 192) In 1735, William Cosby named Daniel Horsmanden New York’s city recorder (pg. 30) and then Horsmanden put on his robe as a judge in the Supreme Court in 1741. (pg.63) In 1737, the Common Council of New York constituted “Negro Law”, a law that stated “no Negro, Mullatto or Indian Slave, shall appear in the streets of this city above an hour after sun-set without a Candle and Lanthorn, on penalty of being whipt at the publick whipping post.” (pg. 57)
After multiple fires had been set to various buildings in New York within a few weeks apart, slaves were automatically accused and were the primary suspects. (pg. 60) Whether or not it was a conspiracy due to the previous fires in 1736, (pg. 56-57) panic swept the streets of New York. It’s irrefutable that the fires set in New York was due to the whites’ racist ideals and paranoiac prejudice of African …show more content…
The text referred to Peggy Kerry as a “Negro Peg” for crossing racial lines. (pg. 156) Other terms that caught my attention were “negro plot, negro law, and negro election day”. It’s very eye opening to see how other human beings were completely divided to the point where they had to add the term “negro” to the beginning of every term to show the separation. A lot of people are aware of common things in slavery like separate homes, food, and privilege, but knowing even words to describe slaves were separate is unreal. Slaves were treated as a completely different and less-equal species. This text very much expanded my knowledge of slave experiences in America. I didn’t realize the extent that these groups were treated as