Chains

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED!!!

Prologue

In 1800 Slavery was economically marginal in the Northeast states.

In 1807: A federal ban was placed on the importation of new slaves.

In 1810:  A census was held; the black population was found to be 1,377,080

1820's: The "Underground Railroad" began as an informal network of safe houses which helped runaway slaves escape to freedom   It was mainly organized by  Quakers and Mennonites.

An anti slave law had been passed in 1823 that better working conditions and treatment should be provided for slaves.

1833: Over 1,000 regional, state and city groups joined together and found the American Anti-Slavery Society

1850: The "Compromise of 1850" is approved by Congress. Slavery was abolished in the District of Columbia. California was admitted to the union as a free state. Slavery was permitted in the new territories of New Mexico and Utah.

In 1857: The  Dred Scott decision was issued it stated that that the US Congress could not prohibit slavery in any state; that an African-American could not be an American citizen; and that slaves were not considered persons. A runaway slave only became safe if he/she escaped from the country. 

1863: President Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation on 1-Jan- 1863.

It applied only to the "rebellious states" and stated "that all persons held as slaves are, and henceforward shall be free." It allowed African-Americans to join the Union Army and Navy. Unfortunately, the Proclamation did not free a single slave:

The loyal border states who did not secede from the Union were still allowed to keep people enslaved.

Persons in the south that had already come under Northern control were also able to retain their slaves.

The remaining Southern states ignored the Proclamation.

In 1865: The 13th Amendment to the Constitution of the United States ended slavery on 31-Jan-1865.

It states: "Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude, except as a punishment for crime where of the party shall have been duly convicted, shall exist within the United States, or any place subject to their jurisdiction."

**************************************************************************

6-August-1863

It was a hot june morning and the flowers were in full bloom decorating Lord Williams's garden like a painting canvas. The sky was full of cotton wool clouds and the morning air filled my lungs.

''May get up and bring Master William his breakfast'' mama told me.

Quickly washing myself and dressing I went and bid Good morning to my mother and made my way to the mansion.

My house is a cottage it has two bedrooms,  one bathroom, kitchen and a parlour.  There is nothing special about it,  it shares the same features as the other ten cottages Master William's ancestors had made my late ancestors buil for us workers. Each building parallel to the other shaded with many Bur Oak trees their branches casted protectively over the estate.

There were already workers working in the cotton fields under the hot sun, their backs drenched in sweat and their hands depleted and lacerated from  the dried bristles off the plant. To pick cotton you must have a cotton sack with a strap around your shoulder that is at least 20 feet long. Into it and in a bent over posture you pluck the cotton that has blossomed out, as many as each hand can carry, and toss it into the cotton sack. I still have the scars on my hand from trying to help out throughout my childhood. It is a job that was really significant in the past but as times moved on so has the jobs servants do, now it's only a few who do it and it's for extra income for their families.