Author Jacqueline Tobin reexamines the history of the Underground Railroad, looking at the extension of the Railroad into Canada and the escape of fugitive slaves into Canada. She also examines the life of ex-slaves as free people in Canada.
Video and audio versions are available.
Colonial Wiliamsburg Librarian Juleigh Clark describes her research into the events described in Revolutionary-War-era newspapers, both in articles and advertisements.
Note: this podcast is no longer available. To view a transcript of the original podcast, click here.
When slavery was introduced to the colonies in 1600, the reaction was a struggle to become free. Writer Christy Coleman discusses the efforts of slaves to secure freedom and the creation of an Electronic Field Trip on the subject for Colonial Williamsburg.
Interested in learning more about Electronic Field Trips? Click here!
Migration, both forced and voluntary, remains a prominent theme in African American history. This website is built around the history of 13 African American migration experiences: the transatlantic slave trade (1450s1867), runaway journeys (1630s1865), the domestic slave trade (1760s1865), colonization and emigration (17831910s), Haitian Immigration (17911809), Western migration (1840s1970), and Northern migration (1840s1890).
Twentieth-century migrations include the Great Migration (19161930), the Second Great Migration (19401970), Caribbean immigration (1900present), the return South migration (1970present), Haitian immigration in the 20th century (1970present), and African immigration (1970present). More than 16,500 pages of texts, 8,300 illustrations, and 67 maps are included. An interactive timeline places migration in the context of U.S. history and the history of the African Diaspora.
Dr. Tom Costa, of the University of Virginia-Wise, discusses The Geography of Slavery, an online database compiling advertisements for the capture of runaway slaves from 1736 to 1803.
To listen to this lecture, select "Part 2" under the October 12th listing.
Dr. Tom Costa, of the University of Virginia-Wise, discusses The Geography of Slavery, an online database compiling advertisements for the capture of runaway slaves from 1736 to 1803.
To listen to this lecture, select "Podcast Part 1" under the October 12th listing.
Michael F. Holt of the University of Virginia discusses the struggle to resolve disputes over territory acquired during the Mexican-American War, particularly the dispute over how (and whether) slavery should spread into the new territories.
To view this clip, select "Origins of the Compromise of 1850" under "Frontier Settlement Video."
Eric Foner of Columbia University discusses the implementation of the Fugitive Slave Law and Northern reactions to it. He also considers the contradiction between Southern support of the Fugitive Slave Law and of state rights, as well as Abraham Lincoln's own political (if not personal) support of the Fugitive Slave Law.
To view this clip, select "Fugitive Slaves and the Compromise of 1850" under "African-American Experience Video."
James O. Horton of George Washington University gives examples of incidences of recovery of fugitive slaves and kidnapping of free blacks in the North, following the passage of the Fugitive Slave Law; and discusses the contradiction between Southern support of the Fugitive Slave Law and Southern support of state rights.
To view this clip, select "The Fugitive Slave Law of 1850" under "African-American Experience Video."
James O. Horton of George Washington University discusses the abolitionist views and activities of free blacks in the antebellum U.S., including reactions to the Fugitive Slave Law and participation in the Underground Railroad.
To view this clip, select "Free Blacks in the Antebellum North" under "African-American Experience Video."