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This page gives an overview of slavery in the United States.

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Learn about the controversey that caused the American Civil War.

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This page discusses some of the differences that existed between the North and South before the Civil War.

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Time and Place

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The Rise and Fall of Jim Crow. A Century of Segregation | PBS

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Slavery and the Making of America . The Slave Experience: Religion | PBS

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In the 1930s, the Works Progress Administration (WPA) sponsored a federal project dedicated to chronicling the experience of slavery as remembered by former slaves and their descendants. Their stories were recorded and transcribed, and this site presents dozens of select sound recordings and hundreds of transcriptions from the interviews.

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Army Office Letter and “I am Committee” Broadside

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Army Office Letter and “I am Committee” Broadside

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This letter and accompanying broadside outlines rules for African Americans made by an unknown source.

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Army Office Letter and “I am Committee” Broadside.pdf

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THE LIFE OF JOSIAH HENSON, FORMERLY A SLAVE1849

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THE LIFE OF JOSIAH HENSON, FORMERLY A SLAVE1849

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Slavery and the Making of America . Original Document Image | PBS

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Plantation America

The Work of Slaves

9. James Martin Gibbons his [Receipt] Book." 17 July 1780. William Gibbons, Jr. Papers. (Georgia) Special Collections Library, Duke University.
Description: Towards the middle of the very small, fragile receipt book are pages that read "Things that Bristol has carried to Market." Among the items enumerated are potatoes, peas, and fennel. The listing is dated for trucking on April 12, 15, 18, 19, 20, 21, et cetera. Was this Bristol a slave? Yes. In the document "Negroes...Shoes..." 1789 in the William Gibbons, Jr. Papers a receipt shows that Tom--whom previous receipts show delivering rice to Savannah--and Bristol--whom previous receipts show trucking goods to market--were Gibbons' slaves. [Click on the image for a larger version.]

10. "Ballard's Valley Increase and Decrease of Stock..." 1793. Ballard's Valley Plantation. (St. Mary's Parish, Jamaica) Special Collections Library, Duke University.
Description: Details the number and condition of slaves.

11. Channing, John. 26 June 1770. William Gibbons, Jr. Papers. (Georgia) Special Collections Library, Duke University.
Description: Letter Channing writes to Gibbons. Gibbons will be looking after Channing's slaves while Channing is away. The letter offers insights into the lives of blacks.

"I am going out of Town for a fortnight or more and am Apprehensive Cap[tain] W...son may sail before my return have givien him directions for 5 pieces of Negro Cloth to be shiped on board him which I believe will be more than wanted, one piece is coarser the the rest which I intend for the Children. Amey, I believe can cut them out without any difficulty, indeed most of the Country born and some of the others have always chose to have the Cloth given them and their Wives and Sisters to cut it out and make them up for them and as they are better satisfyed and a matter of indifference you'll please still indluge as many as desire it the same."

He goes on to express his desire that the new settlement is soon finished and the slaves divided between both holdings. He thinks their being congregated as they are is the reason why their general health is not so good.

12. "A Return of all the Slaves liable to Work on the Newington Road." 1770[?]. William Gibbons, Jr. Papers. (Georgia) Special Collections Library, Duke University.
Description: Document illustrates how slaves were used for public works projects.

13. Carter, Robert. Letter to Clement Brooke of the Baltimore Iron Works. 11 November 1776. Robert Carter Papers (Vol. III). (Virginia) Special Collections Library, Duke University.
Description: Item is a letter and an invoice. Of interest is reference made to Jenny. The "Negroe Woman" is on board the sloop Atwell along with a host of other goods. The abstract below is from notations in the invoice and letter.

220 bushels of Indian Corn and one Negroe Woman named Jenny are no on board the Sloop Atwell the cargo mentioned abov to be delivered to you for the use of the Baltimoe [sic] Comp[any]--Pray send me a Copy of the Proceedings of the B-C[ompany] when they resolve that there Shall be an Addition of five negroe Women, to their Stock--
It is customary for me to engage my Negroes from new years day to the 31st of December following--however Geo. Wilkerson, Wool Comber, has relinquished Jenny, who is a good Spinster--Jenny is young & Stout, She has fits, accasionally, [sic] I say Accasionally, becuase her fits never happen but upon her being reprimanded for neglects; nor do those Fits leave behind any visible Effects If Jenny Should prove not to be sound, I will at a future date Send a negroe woman in her Stead--...

14. A map of the Parish of St. Stephen, in Craven County: exhibiting a view of the several places practicable for making a navigable canal, between Santee and Cooper Rivers. Henry Mouzon, Jr. & John Lodge. Surveyor or engraver. London: 1773.
Description: Map with a corner detail depicting slave labor on an indigo plantation. [Click on the image for a larger version.]

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9. James Martin Gibbons his [Receipt] Book." 17 July 1780. William Gibbons, Jr. Papers. (Georgia) Special Collections Library, Duke University. Description: Towards the middle of the very small, fragile receipt book are pages that read "Things that Bristol has carried to Market." Among the items enumerated are potatoes, peas, and fennel.

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Black Southerners in the Old South: The Slave Community

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Black Southerners in the Old South: The Slave Community

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Black Southerners in the Old South

The Slave Community

18. Manigault, Louis[?]. "Names of New Hands at Gowrie & East Hermitage." 1860? Louis Manigault Papers. (South Carolina) Special Collections Library, Duke University.
Description: List names eighteen new hands at Gowie and East Hermitage plantations. It indicates which hands draw their allowances together, the residences of each, and the relation of one to another. Document demonstrates preserverance of slave family ties and ackowledgement of the same by slave owners. But it also makes clear that the slave community was not, nor could it be, a community in and of itself. The four new hands at Gowrie--Celin, Bella, William, and Mathias--are "together for the present in the half of the house next to Robert," but unlike the other new hands who are related to the slaves with whom they live, the new Gowrie hands share no such bonds. At Gowrie, husband and wife Cellin and Bella appear to have been given the responsibility of two slaves to whom they are not at all related, William and Mathias. [Click on the image for a larger version.]

19. "$20 Reward." 5 February 1844. Broadside Collection. Special Collections Library, Duke University.
Description: Broadside announcing a $20 reward for the return of the runaway slave Martin. [Click on the image for a larger version.]

Ranaway from the Subscriber, on the 22nd December last, his negro man MARTIN, aged about 23 years. He has a pleasing countenance, round face, is quick spoken, and can tell a very plausible story; he is shining black, stout built, with large limbs, short fingers, and small feet; the toe next to his great toe has been mashed off.
The above reward will be paid on his delivery to me, or at any Jail in North Carolina.
James R. Wood
Wadesboro', Feb. 5, 1844.

20. "50 Dollars Reward." 2 Janaury 1817. Broadside Collection. Special Collections Library, Duke University.
Description: Broadside announcing a $50 reward for the return of runaway slaves Jacob and Stephen.

Run away on the 17th night of April last, from the subscribers living in Mecklenburg County N.C. near Charlote, two likely young negro fellows (viz.) Jacob and Stephen. Jacob is aboot 23 years of age, stout made, dark complected and his gums of a blackish colour. Stephen is about 21 years of age, stout made, dark complected, and not so thick set as Jacob with a small tear on his under lip cut with a pen knife, and a scar on his throat by a beeling. They set out for Philadelphia, and was last June between Petersburg and Richmond, on their way; they are both smart and active, we will give the above reward and pay all reasonable expences to any persons that will apprehend and confine them, in any Jail so as we get them, or deliver them to us in Charlotte, or 25 dollars for either, and if you secure them write to Charlotte or advertise them in the Richmond Enquirer untill we get them.

ZENAS ALEXANDER
GEORGE ALEXANDER
January, 2d 1817.

21. "Minutes." 1831-1832. Clarke's Station Baptist Church, Wilkes County, Georgia. Special Collections Library, Duke University.
Description: Pages six and seven of Clarke's Station Baptist Church minute book contains "Names of Black male members" and "Names of Black Female members." In places, the list is annotated, such as "deceased Oct 1822," "Dismissed by letter 1822," "Excommunicated 11th September 1826." The black members are mostly slaves, and are thus named with reference to their owners such as "Widow Popes Daniel," and "Martins Abby." One member, however, is named "free Charles."

22. "Journal of Araby Plantation, Parish of Madison Louisiana." 1843-1849. Haller Nutt Papers. (Mississippi) Special Collections Library, Duke University.
Description: Detailed Araby Plantation journal lists daily activities, instructions to overseers, instructions for care of the sick, slave lists, et cetera. The journal contains logs measuring amount of cotton picked by male and female slaves on the plantation.

23. "Weight Negro Cotton made in 1858." William Law Papers. (South Carolina) Special Collections Library, Duke University.
Description: Lists names of about 18 slaves, the amount of cotton brought in on their account, and each slave's credit. Document, along with many others in this collection, reveal some of the workings of the named slaves' internal economy. Most of the names on this particular list are women. Slaves on this list earned almost $60 in cotton for the year. [Click on the image for a larger version.]

24. Manigault, Louis. "Respecting the Cholera amongst the People in Nov[ember] & Dec[ember] 1852." 1 Janaury 1853 [?]. Louis Manigault Papers. (South Carolina) Special Collections Library, Duke University.
Description: Manigault lists a number of sick blacks at his several plantations. He has a habit of leaving marginalia that makes plain his relationship with various slaves on the list. For example, Manigault lists Jack's demise and notes "My old play Mate." He records Stafford's death with the following: "Amos's Son & the finest looking Negro I ever saw." Subtly conveys the tangle of plantation relationships while also making clear the harsh material circumstances of 19th century plantation life.

25. Manigault, Louis. "Prescription Book." 1852. Louis Manigault Papers. (South Carolina) Special Collections Library, Duke University.
Description: The abstract below from Manigault's prescription book describes a remedy for cholera that is to be given to the slave Stafford.

Rx Stafford Cholera
Calomel 20 grs
Pound Opium 2 grs
mix and make 4 powders
S. One every 2 hours, to be followed by castor oil 6 hours after the last dose provided there is no excessive action by the Calomel upon the bowels.

26. Harris, Elizabeth (Johnson). "Elizabeth Johnson Harris Memoir." 1867-1923. (Georgia) Special Collections Library, Duke University.
Description: Harris tells " A true & laughable Story by My Mother." It is a tale about the time her mother tried on her mistress's clothes, and was then frightened half out of her wits by another slave who watched the affair.

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Slave Voices - Black Southerners in the Old South

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18. Manigault, Louis[?]. "Names of New Hands at Gowrie & East Hermitage." 1860? Louis Manigault Papers. (South Carolina) Special Collections Library, Duke University. Description: List names eighteen new hands at Gowie and East Hermitage plantations. It indicates which hands draw their allowances together, the residences of each, and the relation of one to another.

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Frederick Douglass escaped slavery and became one of America’s most famous abolitionist speakers. This passage comes from his autobiography, published in 1846. This book, in which Douglass described his experience in and escape from enslavement, reached a mass audience in the United States and abroad.

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Frederick Douglass Describes Enslavers .pdf

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This poem by Harriet Beecher Stowe was written in 1852 in response to a request from the Rochester Ladies’ Anti-slavery Society.

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A. J. McElveen, letter to the slaver Ziba B. Oakes, 19 January 1854

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A. J. McElveen, letter to the slaver Ziba B. Oakes, 19 January 1854

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A letter written by A. J. McElveen to Z.B. Oakes regarding an enslaved man named Isaac.

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A. J. McElveen, letter to the slaver Ziba B. Oakes, 19 January 1854.pdf

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A Narrative of the Most Remarkable Particulars in the Life of James Albert Ukawsaw Gronniosaw

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A Narrative of the Most Remarkable Particulars in the Life of James Albert Ukawsaw Gronniosaw

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This text describes James Albert Ukawsaw Gronniosaw’s life experiences in the British American colonies. A young English woman transcribed Gronniosaw's quest to maintain his emancipation and his dream of a better life in the United Kingdom.

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A Narrative of the Most Remarkable Particulars in the Life of James Albert Ukawsaw Gronniosaw.pdf

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HATE ORGANIZATION, UNITED STATES

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Ku Klux Klan, either of two distinct U.S. hate organizations that employed terror in pursuit of their white supremacist agenda. One group was founded in Pulaski, Tennessee, immediately after the Civil War and lasted until the 1870s. The other group began in 1915 and has continued to the present.

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Following the Civil War, the Ku Klux Klan emerges to suppress and victimize newly freed slaves.

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Excerpt from Gwendolyn M. Patton oral history interview

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Excerpt from Gwendolyn M. Patton oral history interview

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Excerpt from Gwendolyn M. Patton oral history interview.pdf

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To the Colored Men of voting age in Southern states

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To the Colored Men of voting age in Southern states

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To the colored man of voting age in southern states.pdf

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Map from “Freedom and Slavery, and the Coveted Territories”

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Map from “Freedom and Slavery, and the Coveted Territories”

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Map from “Freedom and Slavery, and the Coveted Territories”

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William Wells Brown was born into slavery and later escaped to become one of the foremost supporters of abolition.

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Creating a Culture: the Music of Enslaved People

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Creating a Culture: the Music of Enslaved People

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Creating a Culture- the Music of Enslaved People