EOTO Trial - Andrew Jackson

     After hearing Brady state his case about Andrew Jackson, I learned that he was Pro-Slavery. Jackson generally wanted his slaves to be treated well, as they were the source of his wealth. He wanted to treat them with great humanity, feed and clothe them, and work them in moderation. Occasionally, Jackson could be cruel and whip his slaves for running away or being impudent. When talk about abolishing slavery came about, Jackson believed abolishing slaves would put too many people out of work and it be a threat to national unity. He believed abolishing slaves would disrupt the South's hard work and success, but not only that, he also wanted it as a way to further white supremacy. He believed that diving the country would not help and cause war (which it did). 

Plessy vs Ferguson

Today I’m going to be talking about the 1892 incident in which African American train passenger, Homer Plessy, refused to sit in a car for blacks. This law was passed by Louisiana state legislature in 1890 which required “equal, but separate.” This does not sit as equal to me. Plessy had every right to refuse to move as his constitutional rights were violated. Duly arrested and imprisoned, he was then brought to New Orleans for a trial and convicted of violating the 1890 law. He then filed a petition against the judge in that trial, arguing that the segregation law violating the equal protection clause of the 14th amendment.  

As stated, in the 14th and 15th amendment, that it guarantees all citizens “equal protection of the laws” and the 15th stating “The right of citizens of the U.S to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the U.S on account of race, color, or previous conditions of servitude.” If the 14th amendment is trying to state that everyone born or neutralized in the U.S are citizens and should be treated equally, but if there is still segregation, it’s violating that amendment. The court ruled that while the object of the 14th amendment was to “create absolute equality of the races before the law”, but such equality extended only so far as political and civil rights and not social rights.  

This contradicts itself, saying that people of color are allowed to be equal with everyone else on a political view, but in the real world they are to be treated differently just because of their own color? The arbitrary separation of citizens, on the basis of race, while they are on a public highway, is a badge of servitude inconsistent with civil freedom and equality. If a black and white man choose to occupy the same public conveyance on a public highway, it is their right to do so and no government, proceeding alone on the grounds of race, can prevent it without violating the personal liberty of each. Plessy did nothing wrong and stood up for racial segregation that violated his rights. Thank you.  

 

  

Mississippi's War: Slavery and Secession

    After Lincoln got elected on November 6th, he had the power to appoint people to hold federal offices. This terrified southerners, as Lincoln might appoint an abolitionist. White Southerners feared loosing money and their way of life. By 1860, the South had the 4th largest economy in the world, and could not afford to loose their slaves or their business with cotton. 

    At this time, cotton was a gold mine. people were addicted to cotton because it was so valuable. Everybody wanted it. The south was dependent on slaves for cotton. Mississippi during this time had more slaves than free people in their state. Cotton was the engine that drove Mississippi's economy.  

    Slavery became a very emotional issue, as some people thought it was a horrible thing to own slaves. Most folk who who defended slavery were justifying it on christianity. Using the bible verse "Slaves obey their masters". Slavery started to tear the nation apart. Wealthy southerners were afraid if Lincoln freed their slaves, it would be a financial disaster. Lincoln said he would reimburse the slave owners for the labor they would loose, but they weren't interested in that. It was a slap in the face to their way of life, they did not want to give up their slaves. 

    In 1860, Jefferson Davis was Mississippi's senator and believed that the states were sovereign and should be allowed to leave the union fo they chose. The North was mad, and so a war was coming. They called a secession convention and gathered delegates from every county in Mississippi were they argued for or against slavery. Not every Mississippian was for secession. They worried about the impact the loss of slavery would have if a war came and the war did not go they way they would like it to go. After confederate troops attacked Fort Sumter, Lincoln called up 75,000 union troops to reoccupy US properties, thus began the civil war.