Slavery in Illinois

Blake Buchholz

American History

Slavery in Illinois

This essay talks about the dated events that happened in Illinois, focusing on slavery, from the time it begun, whether it should be implemented or not, its abolishment, and up to the time it ended. The paper also contains a well-opinionated reaction about slavery, how it is different from today.

The Civil War Period has always been the primary hub of teaching in any American History Classes. The era between the American Revolution and the Civil War was of a great importance since it has been the best and worst part of the western civilization during those times. The limelight was theirs when we turn back the pages of history. Consequently, slavery as an economic system and as a moral disgrace is one of the very most scandalous trend after the coming of the war. Prominent people had actual arguments about they are either pro-slavery or abolitionist, thus making the system even worse. Colonization to constraint of slavery on its natural eventual downfall is not merely the case now. Today, normal people have the same opinion about the moral repugnancy of slavery, and are left with a more complex idea about why many people supported the institution of slavery and why it was so difficult to eliminate that "peculiar institution."

The first Africans landed in Jamestown, in Virginia in the year 1619. Having them appeared as an indentured servants, there was an institution that allows the black for hereditary lifetime service. From there, transportation of slaves from Africa to the West Indies became rampant. During this time, there were no rules applied for the slaves. The only rule is that restricting all the rights of the servants. (Davis, 79) Because of the ongoing scenario, the British America recognized how slaves could be useful in America and so Practice of slavery has become legal in the years 1660s. There were enacted laws such as slave codes and the like. These law restricts the slaves’ liberty and freedom and further protects the institution of slavery. These early years of slavery enabled Illinois to have an Idea about how it would be of a great help if there were slaves in Illinois.

In the year 1720, Kaskasian Commandant named Pierre Duque had quoted how 100 Negroes could be used for this kind of settlement. And so, this was the first time African slavery was proposed in Illinois. (Eckberg, 145). There, slavery had begun. It continued up to the years of the French, and British era in Illinois and ended in the year when Illinois was declared to be a free constitution in 1848.

Jesuits have claimed to have 16-18 African slaves in Illinois during the French time. The Jesuits in Illinois during that time were able to buy slaves as they were the wealthiest people in Illinois. They own acres of land that they needed slaves to remove their lands and use them for agricultural purposes and a miners. (Eckberg 143) It was said that a person named Philip Francis Renault was the first person who could have brought slaves from Haiti to Illinois in 1719 to work on mines. 500 slaves were promised, and there was an agreement that 25 Negroes will be sent annually, but most of them were never sent due to the reason that the operations were never successful. It was uncertain how many slaves were brought by Reynauld, but figures show it was not 500. Reynauld holds the title of having the highest number of 25 slaves during that time.

On the latter years, more slaves were brought to Illinois. The distribution of Africans in Illinois were made with great fairness. The rights of both the African slaves and the French masters in Illinois were specifically spelled-out. Rights were implemented so as the slave would not be so much discriminated by their masters and vice versa. Most historians claim that the code was strictly employed in lower Louisiana, but not in Illinois. (Harris, 3)

During the British Time, no rules nor restrictions were implemented. They had only continued what the French era had brought them. It was on this period that the African slaves were already 1/3 of the population of the colonial Illinois.

When the Americans had come to rule Illinois, as they were claimed to become a state of West Virginia in the year 1778, there were change of rules. Gen. Rogers Clark made a pact about how slavery could be straightened and protected. (Davis 83, 165) The recently gained land north of Ohio River, currently the states of Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Michigan and Wisconsin, was the Northwest Territory. Northwest Ordinance, Article 6 says, “There shall be neither slavery nor involuntary servitude in said territory otherwise than in the punishment of crimes….” Following the Northwest Ordinance, further French people transferred across the Mississippi River into