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During its first 50 years the United States transformed itself from a small republic into an expansive democracy for white Americans. The nation tripled its population, doubled in size, and extended slavery to parts of the Western frontier. For black Americans, this same period was a contradictory mix of community-building for free blacks and entrenched enslavement for those not yet emancipated. Slavery grew stronger, as the invention of the cotton gin and a booming Southern economy fueled the push westward. In cities like Philadelphia, free blacks sought equal participation in American society by building churches and schools, forming beneficial societies, and petitioning their state legislature. In the aftermath of the Haitian Revolution (1791-1804), several slave uprisings, including Gabriel's Rebellion (1800), Denmark Vesey's Plot (1822), and Nat Turner's Revolt (1831), were poignant reminders of the human desire for freedom -- regardless of the bloody consequences.
Next: Map: The Growing Nation
Part 3 Narrative:
• Introduction
• Map: The Growing Nation
• Philadelphia
• Freedom and Resistance
• The Black Church
• Colonization
• Conspiracy and Rebellions
• Growth and Entrenchment of Slavery
Part 3: Narrative | Resource Bank Contents | Teacher's Guide
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