The Journey of Black Americans: 1776 – 1864

From the founding of the United States through the Civil War, the institution of slavery shaped the lives of Black Americans—with repercussions still felt today. This course traces that journey through primary sources, drawing from Documenting the American South preserved by the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. We examine firsthand accounts and slave narratives from historic figures, including Frederick Douglass and Harriet Tubman. We also analyze the legal frameworks that maintained slavery, including antebellum state codes and legislation enacted by the Confederate States of America. Through these documents, we gain a nuanced understanding of African-American resilience and resistance, as well as the complex legal and social structures that governed a nation at war with its own ideals.