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Chapter 4: Millie & Christine's Performance and the Expansion of…
Chapter 4: Millie & Christine's Performance and the Expansion of Slavery
End of the Transatlantic Slave Trade
In 1808 when the legal trade of slaves across the Atlantic had ended, the domestic slave trade was born
Westward expansion of the United States is what powered this trade as plantations were being constructed west where the soil was nutrient rich for the king crop cotton and the prince crop sugar
Unfortunately due to the transportation and sale of slaves happening domestically, families were often separated. Wives, husbands, children were separated and often never saw each other again
Abolition of Slavery in the North
Although Northern states were beginning the process of abolishing slavery, this "abolition" was limited. There were still legislations that allowed for enslavement of African Americans with many restrictions and regulations on freedom
Some states placed age restrictions on freedom and postnatal regulations connecting freedom to an enslaved women's womb. In Vermont specifically, men could gain their freedom at age 21 and women at age 18.
Other states, such as New Jersey, had clauses where even if a child qualifies for freedom, if they were born to an enslaved mother than they must serve the mother's owner until the age of 21 for women and 25 for men
The South
While Northern states were beginning to abolish enslavement of African Americans, the South was moving in the opposite direction and was doing everything they could legislatively to hold onto their enslaved populations
Cotton and sugar were cash crops grown in southern plantations and so slave labor was especially desired on these plantations
The Louisiana Purchase of 1803, invention of the cotton gin, the ideology of Manifest Destiny and the forced removal of native Americans in the 1830's encouraged slavery in the South and West
Commodification of Ensalved Women' Bodies
Women's bodies were constantly being assaulted during the Anetbellum period. Whether it was during a sale and men were examining the body of the slave for sale, or in the operating room where physicians violated the rights of so many African American women for scientific experimentation
It was also not uncommon for women to reproduce forcefully by the request of their masters. Whether it was the master himself raping the enslaevd women or pairing her up with another enslaved men, women were expected to produce children and therefore more slaves since the transatlantic slave trade ceased to exist legally. Having a women give birth to more slaves was the cheapest and easiest way for a salve owner to grow his slave labor
The field of gynecology should be credited to Anarcha, Betsy and Lucy who were 3 enslaved women who underwent experimental surgeries without any administered pain medication. The man performing these medical procedures was physician and plantar J. Marion Sims. The McKoy conjoined twins also experienced a similar fate where they were continuously kidnapped, abused for medical procedures, and out on display to the public for the profit of others
Self-Liberation
Black women continued to resist slavery and they fought together against oppression and helped enslaved people gain their freedom. They spookily publicly and also encouraged and guided antislavery and women's rights activism
Many enslaved people attempted escaping slavery by running away, some having to disguise themselves, and hopefully reaching land where slavery is abolished so they can start their lives over. Ellen Craft was an enslaved women who dressed as a white slave owner and traveled 2,000 miles with her husband (also a slave) to freedom
Many people who did buy or somehow gain their freedom would become slaveholders so that they could purchase the freedom of their family members. However, there are other accounts where free African American women would be slaveholders without intentions of freeing them. Its difficult to understand the mindset of these women who owned slaves but we assume they were doing it to ensure financial stability for this children and family