His 204: American History Since 1865 - Africa American Slavery to President

Africa American Slavery to President

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HIS204: American History Since 1865

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Africa American Slavery to President

African Americans have a very horrific yet rich history that shows the determination, loyalty and love they have for their culture. The fact that they were able to go from slavery with no rights what-so-ever to there being an African American President speaks volumes when you look back over the historical events that have taken place to reach this era in history.

In Unit One African Americans lives had only just begun to make historical changes. The fact that a black man was able to purchase a plantation during the mid-1800s was not a common thing. Benjamin Montgomery and his sons were the exception to the rule when in November 1866 they secretly purchased the Hurricane and Brierfield Plantations, located in Mississippi, from Joseph Davis a farmer well into his years and ruined by the war.

Even as a slave Mr. Montgomery had been a business manager of both of the plantations before the war and had also operated a store for white and black customers. During the war he had fled north but returned and quickly became the leader of the African Americans of Davis Bend.

Joseph Davis was given a pardon by then President Andrew Johnson and his land was restored to him. In his eighties and unlike many of his fellow ex-slaveholders, he not only felt bound to his former slaves, but he also felt that given the opportunity and encouragement that Africa Americans could be successful. In 1867 after the law prohibiting African Americans from owning land was over turned Davis publicly admitted to the sale of his farm to his former slave Benjamin Montgomery.

The Montgomery’s were able to eventually produce more cotton than in the years before the war, purchased an additional plantation owning 5,500 acres making them the third largest planters in the state. They were a great example of the abilities of African Americans given the chance.

Although the Montgomery’s were successful not all slaves were lucky enough to have such a generous

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