AFRICANS IN AMERICA

First Slave Auction in America

• The first American slave auction occurred in 1655
• It was held in New Amsterdam (later became New York)
• The dutch were shipping 2,500 slaves across the Atlantic
• In 1655 America had received its first large shipment of Dutch slaves
• 11 Slaves were unloaded that day

First slave auction continued...

• It was ran by the Dutch West India Company
• One of DWIC many commercial projects that they expiremented
• Dominate Slave Trader
• Saw colonization of New Amsterdam as selling oppertunity
• "Slavery in New York." Slavery in New York. N.p., n.d. Web. 20 Nov. 2013.

THE MIDDLE PASSAGE

• Considered the dungeons for slaves going across the Atlantic.
• The duration of the trip would last up to as long a year.
• This horrendous trip go its name because it was the middle leg of a three part voyage.
• African slaves were traded in exchange for goods like tobacco or sugar.
• Africans did not know what lay ahead of them boarding the ship

THE MIDDLE PASSAGE CONTINUED...

• All the Africans knew is they would not be back.
• Slaves were branded and shackled together
• Less than five feet of room per person
• Many slaves preferred to die rather than to live aboard the ships
• Many slaves did die due to the horrific conditions

PREAMBLE OF THE FREE AFRICAN SOCIETY

• Originated in 1787.
• Their original purpose was to "to support one another in sickness,...
• and for the benefit of their widows and fatherless children."
• Goal was to form a religious society for African Americans.
• Caused a lot of controversy over whether Africans could have their own group.