Virginia Reluctant To Leave America Essay
Why were free blacks in Virginia reluctant to leave the United States?
The Antebellum period had a huge impact on the free African American people. The Antebellumperiod is the time that is pre-Civil War and post-War of 1812. During this period of time, slavery was not fully abolished and African Americans had to deal with many adversities as free blacks. As a result, blacks occasionally contemplated abandoning the United States altogether, fearing that they would never achieve full citizenship (White, Bay, Martin 186). On the other hand, free blacks in Virginia were reluctant to leave the United States because they believed they were entitled to the same rights and freedoms as any other American.
Thousands of black soldiers died, escaped …show more content…
They believed African Americans were rightfully entitled to the same freedoms defended during the war. This prompted free blacks in Richmond, Virginia to meet and discuss the American Colonization Society’s schemes. The meeting was attended by those who were reluctant to leave the United States. Even though they had to deal with the white hostility, they desired life in the United States where they dreamed of better opportunities for themselves and their families. In turn, they decided to petition the U.S. Congress to grant them land on the continent where they could resettle rather than being sent back to Africa. Stating that, “It may not be improper to say that we prefer being colonized in the most remote corner of the land of our nativity, to be exiled to a foreign country.” In this petition, the free black also preferred to be granted territory on the Missouri River or wherever Congress deemed fit, also granting Congress and the Government total discretion to set whatever rules and regulations the United States felt necessary to adopt in regards to such territories. (Garrison
The Antebellum period had a huge impact on the free African American people. The Antebellumperiod is the time that is pre-Civil War and post-War of 1812. During this period of time, slavery was not fully abolished and African Americans had to deal with many adversities as free blacks. As a result, blacks occasionally contemplated abandoning the United States altogether, fearing that they would never achieve full citizenship (White, Bay, Martin 186). On the other hand, free blacks in Virginia were reluctant to leave the United States because they believed they were entitled to the same rights and freedoms as any other American.
Thousands of black soldiers died, escaped …show more content…
They believed African Americans were rightfully entitled to the same freedoms defended during the war. This prompted free blacks in Richmond, Virginia to meet and discuss the American Colonization Society’s schemes. The meeting was attended by those who were reluctant to leave the United States. Even though they had to deal with the white hostility, they desired life in the United States where they dreamed of better opportunities for themselves and their families. In turn, they decided to petition the U.S. Congress to grant them land on the continent where they could resettle rather than being sent back to Africa. Stating that, “It may not be improper to say that we prefer being colonized in the most remote corner of the land of our nativity, to be exiled to a foreign country.” In this petition, the free black also preferred to be granted territory on the Missouri River or wherever Congress deemed fit, also granting Congress and the Government total discretion to set whatever rules and regulations the United States felt necessary to adopt in regards to such territories. (Garrison