During the decade of 1840, the history of the United States was rather bumpy. Mexico had declared war with America over Texas. Pioneers were heading west, and the Mormons traveled and finally settled in Salt Lake City. However, the very heavily debated issue of slavery was still front-runner as the main issue of the time. Though the slave trade had been outlawed, slavery was still very legal (Gascoigne). Many Northern states were against slavery, but because they did not necessarily like blacks, they made it very difficult for former slaves to become free citizens. Some Northerners even went so far as to threaten blacks to prevent them from settling in certain northern areas (“Northern”). There were many former slaves, though, that went on
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Later in life he also became a well-known journalist. He was happily married in 1829 and the couple had three children whom they raised on their farm. While looking for work in the spring of 1841, he was approached by two men who claimed to be part of a circus. They convinced him to travel down to Washington, D.C. with them and accompany their act with his fiddling. Once they got to the city, however, Northup was drugged, bound, and beaten before being sold into slavery in Louisiana (“Solomon”). After he was beaten in Washington, D.C. for stating he was a free man, he was told by the trader who beat him that “he would kill him if he ever stated to anyone that he was a free man” (Stromberg). His life in slavery was the basis for his novel “12 Years a Slave.” During these dozen years, Northup both witnessed and was the victim of many horrific acts. He watched a woman’s children be sold and taken from her. He saw a female salve sexually abused and constantly living in fear of her master’s wife’s rage. However, he also met a Canadian carpenter, Samuel Bass, who befriended Northup and eventually helped him reclaim his freedom and be reunited with his family. After being reunited with his family, he joined the Underground Railroad and helped runaway slaves reach Canada
Later in life he also became a well-known journalist. He was happily married in 1829 and the couple had three children whom they raised on their farm. While looking for work in the spring of 1841, he was approached by two men who claimed to be part of a circus. They convinced him to travel down to Washington, D.C. with them and accompany their act with his fiddling. Once they got to the city, however, Northup was drugged, bound, and beaten before being sold into slavery in Louisiana (“Solomon”). After he was beaten in Washington, D.C. for stating he was a free man, he was told by the trader who beat him that “he would kill him if he ever stated to anyone that he was a free man” (Stromberg). His life in slavery was the basis for his novel “12 Years a Slave.” During these dozen years, Northup both witnessed and was the victim of many horrific acts. He watched a woman’s children be sold and taken from her. He saw a female salve sexually abused and constantly living in fear of her master’s wife’s rage. However, he also met a Canadian carpenter, Samuel Bass, who befriended Northup and eventually helped him reclaim his freedom and be reunited with his family. After being reunited with his family, he joined the Underground Railroad and helped runaway slaves reach Canada