Slave Revolts

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African Americans were willing to die for their freedom because freedom flooded the hearts and desires of every slave. For each slave living in colonial America the dream was the same. How can I be free? This dream caused many slave revolts, uprisings done by slaves, in America. African America slaves living in Colonial America longed for the days when they would be free and looked for every chance to be free because they were treated badly by their masters. Slaveholders were people who own slaves. Slaves were not well-fed, their living conditions were poor, and they were whipped so they would work harder and faster. Slaves were also beaten, punished for complaining of their living conditions, and they never got paid for their years of service. In addition, they were not permitted to read and write, and had no personal rights Slaves were willing to die for their freedom because they saw no end to the horrible treatment from their masters. They revolted by attacking their masters, damaging equipment, smashing wagons, setting fires to barns and stables. Slaves knew that if they got caught for these actions they would be brutally beaten and sometimes put to death. Many slaves killed themselves because they saw no end to their hard work and bleak life. However, the slaves who escaped slavery on the plantations, a large agricultural estate, used the Underground Railroad. The Underground Railroad was a series of escape routes used by escaping slaves. Many whites and blacks helped the run away slaves by being conductors, people who helped escaping slaves, of the Underground Railway. They hid slaves in attics, churches, and barns. Furthermore, during the Revolutionary War, some slaves escaped plantation life by running away to Canada or Florida. Slaves also joined the British to fight the war because they believed that a British victory would bring them freedom. Others joined the patriot’s Continental Army, with the hope of freedom. The Continental Army was made of American men fighting for freedom from British control. The first American killed in the fight for freedom from England was a black man named Crispus Attuck. Now you can see why African American slaves were willing to die for their freedom. As slaves dreamed for freedom, they revolted against their masters and the cruel system of slavery. Click here to do crossword Additional learning Resource: http://www.moec.gov.jm/heroes/nanny.htm BIBLIOGRAPHY FOR THE CURRENT PAGE Textbooks: World History - Medieval and Early Modern Times. Evanston: McDougal Littell, 2006. (150 – 199) Across the Centuries. Boston: Houghton Miifflin Company, 1997. (108 – 153) Dasilva, Benjamin, and Milton Finkelstine. The Afro-American in United States History. New York: Globe Book Company, 1969. (4 -135) Internet Websties: "World Civilizations." African Diaspora Slave Rebellions. 23 Feb. 2006 <http://www.wsu.edu/~dee/DIASPORA/REBEL.HTM>. "Liberty Story." Runaway Slaves. 23 Feb. 2006 <http://www.libertystory.net/LSACTIONRUNAWAYSLAVES.htm>. Underground Railroad. 23 Feb. 2006 <http://americancivilwar.com/underground_railroad.html>.