How Did Solomon Northup Contribute To Slavery?

In American slavery began when the first African slaves were brought to Jamestown, Virginia in 1619 to tend to crops such as tobacco and cotton.It continued for many years. African American slaves helped build the economic foundations of this nation throughout the 17th and 18th centuries. Slaves would be bought and often traded to save owners who were in need of workers to tend to their crops. Slavery was legal and practiced in the nation 's 13 colonies. In 1789 there were eight free states. Those states included: New York Pennsylvania, Vermont, and Rhode Island. Solomon Northup was one of many freed slaves that live in the free state of New York. He was born on July 10th 1807 or 1808. He was the son of two freed slaves. He was one of many that owned land and worked as a farmer and professional violinist. He had two children and a wife. One day, after his family went out of town; because his wife was offered a job, he went for a walk to the park. There he meets two white men, claiming to be …show more content…
He started working again, as a carpenter and became very active in the abolitionist movement. He lectured on slavery and his experiences on being a free man and being kidnapped and placed into slavery. Solomon wrote about his experience within those 12 years of being a slave in the book 12 Years A Slave which was created into a movie directed by Steve McQueen in 2013. He mentions that; The existence of Slavery in its most brutal form among them has a tendency to brutalize the humane and finer feelings of their nature. Daily witnesses of human suffering—listening to the agonizing screeches of the slave—beholding him writhing beneath the merciless lash—bitten and torn by dogs—dying without attention, and buried without shroud or coffin—it cannot otherwise be expected, than that they should become brutified and reckless of human