1775 To 1830 Dbq Analysis

The years 1775 to 1830 held many changes for African Americans. Both free and enslaved African Americans reacted to the ever changing world around them. More and more slaves were being granted manumission and yet slavery expanded immensely. Many African Americans gained freedom from slavery as a result of the American Revolution, however slavery continued to expand due to protections for the constitution, the increasing production of cotton, westward expansion and the American perception of slaves. Free African Americans responded by petitioning the government, trying to appeal to both white and black publics, and organizing themselves both politically and socially, while enslaved African Americans responded by either purchasing their freedom or emancipating themselves and, if they were not able to do either, turning to rebellion. The American revolution was a major influence on the freeing of slaves from 1775 to 1830. It instilled the
They faced the challenges brought on by changes by appealing to both a white and black audience when addressing the public. Absalom Jones, the first African American clergyman, and Richard Allen, founder of the first independent black denomination in the United States, of Philadelphia appealed to the white public, even saying that African Americans should have a great deal of gratitude towards white people because even as they "have held us in captivity, [they] are now pleading our cause with zeal". (Doc. E) On the other hand, David Walker in "Appeal to the Colored Citizens of the World" does exactly what the title says, appeals to the colored people. Walker rallies the slaves saying "...we must and shall be set free...", appealing to their want of freedom, telling them that there is no way they cannot be set free.(Doc. J) Another response of free African Americans was to petition to the government. An example of this is Paul Cuffe's petition in 1780 in