through 1860, however they accomplished very little in the way of earning slave

freedom. There were only a handful of major revolts and most of them ended in a

massacre of the revolting black slaves. This coupled with the ever stifling oppression and

brutality the slaves faced prevented any revolts from having a major impact on the

institution of slavery. The slave revolts were largely ineffective because of the total

oppression of the black slave, this oppression started with the various slave codes, that

stripped blacks of their freedom, dignity, and humanity, and these codes or laws almost

methodically became more stringent and brutal after each major revolt. The oppression for

slaves reached its peak with the Runaway Slave Act of 1850.

From as early as 1629 in Jamestown, Virginia, codes or laws were being passed that segregated, humiliated and oppressed the black slave in the new world. These early codes provided for punishment of a white man for fornificating with a black woman, to the servitude of a child until his is 31, that is born of a white mother and black or mulatto father. In addition, these early Jamestown codes also

The New York City Slave Rebellion of 1712 occurred after several slaves had a meeting in a tavern. Twenty three black slaves assembled on the night of April 6, 1812 set fire to several buildings and while the fires were being extinguished they attacked killing nine whites by knives, gun shots and beatings, six additional whites were wounded. Militia units were quickly mustered, and the revolt was quelled. Twenty-seven blacks were captured; six of them committed suicide in captivity. The remainder of the slaves were brutally executed some of them by being burned alive.

From the early 1600’s whites in the new world started an oppression of blacks that would break their spirit and remove their will to fight. This oppression continued up to the Civil War and in some respects continues today. The oppression that was heaped upon the blacks in wave after wave of restrictive laws caused many blacks to fear more for their lives then their freedom. This is evident in the fact that many black revolts were thwarted by slaves themselves. The slaves who informed there masters of revolts were usually rewarded and given special treatment for a couple of days. In revolt after revolt the failure of slaves to take up arms and join their fellow blacks is more proof that they had long since lost there will to fight. The blacks would not regain this will to fight for their freedom until the Massachusetts 54th of the Civil War. They showed other blacks that they could make a difference.

The southerners blamed the abolitionist for the increase in the revolts of slaves. The US and Virginia Armies quickly swept down on the region killing as many as two hundred blacks in reprisal for the uprising. New laws were again passed taking all blacks freedoms away.

Once again, the citizens of Charlestown quickly finished work on the Negro Act that was designed to keep the large number of blacks under control. This new act no longer allowed slaves to grow their own food, assemble, earn their own money, or learn to read or write. Although some of these laws had previously been in effect, they were not heavily enforced. The oppression of the slaves continues to increase.

As a reaction to the revolt, apprehensive whites in New York quickly passed new stricter and more oppressive laws. It was now illegal for more then three black slaves to meet. It was also now legal for a master to punish his slave for even no reason at all, as long as the slave did not lose life or limb. Slaves handling firearms or gambling would be whipped. Slaves committing or engaging in conspiracy would be executed. As would slave who themselves committed murder or rape.

Some topics in this essay:
Jamestown Virginia, Slave Rebellion, Security Act, Gabriel Prosser, Revolts Rebellions, Civil War, Negro Act, Denmark Vessey, Frederick Douglas, Vessey Prosser, slave codes, oppression slaves, black slaves, black slave, slave revolt, laws passed, slave codes 1705, jamestown codes, codes 1705, remainder slaves, oppression black, oppression black slave, slave act 1850, captured tried hung,