Introduction
The American Revolution was a crucial event in American history to protest the existing taxes and the quality of African-American life. The article by Debra Newman (1976), “Black Women in the Era of the American Revolution in Pennsylvania,” was published in The Journal of Negro History to describe the conditions before “the move from slavery to freedom” (289). The author describes the status of Black women and the impact of the laws on the African American population in the 18th century.
The number of enslaved people brought to America continued to grow, including women, men, and children. Families were separated, and most human rights were neglected to achieve the desired economic benefits. The chosen article contributes to a better understanding of the experiences of African Americans, focusing on gender norms and the political landscape during the 1700s-1800s.
Gender Norms
Enslaved African Americans did not get a chance to protect their rights and freedoms in 18th-century America, and women suffered a lot because of their inability to change anything. According to Newman (1976), the number of blacks who lived in Pennsylvania in 1790 was about “10,301 – 6,540 free and 3,761 slaves” (279). In 1820, the black population was enumerated by sex for the first time: 15,398 females and 14,804 males (Newman, 1976, p. 279).
Black women lacked their freedom and had limited personal liberty, being dependent on their masters (Newman, 1976). Most women were brought to America on ships and held as enslaved people until the end of the 1700s. Even after abolition, working conditions did not change for black women, and most continued working for their white masters as domestic servants. They could not get appropriate treatment when they had smallpox or measles. Their needs and demands were neglected, and after the Revolution, many women became widows and the only family leaders.
Political Landscape
The political landscape was unstable at the end of the 18th century and the beginning of the 19th century. The Gradual Abolition law provoked the most evident changes in American society, and the laws in 1726 affected the lives of enslaved people, imposing new taxes on free lives (Newman, 1976). Free black women could be sold into slavery or marry white men, which discouraged manumission (Newman, 1976).
The slave trade continued, and white people got multiple opportunities to meet their financial gains, using black women as free workers on their plantations. The local government did everything possible to restrict the activities of enslaved people and women in particular. That political background was devastating for African Americans and forbade public activities to improve the situation.
Conclusion
In general, the experiences of African Americans during the 1700s-1800s were mostly negative, and much work had to be done to improve their living conditions. Newman’s article shows how black women were treated and why they couldn’t become free even after abolition. Women were dependent on the conditions compared to men, who could make independent decisions and use their physical strengths.
The political changes could not be ignored in the chosen area, but even the most successful laws created additional obstacles for African American females. Anyway, the chosen article taught the reader about gender norms and the major political issues from the African American perspective. The author succeeds in using statistics and descriptions of female lifestyles and obligations at the end of the 18th century.
Reference
Newman, Debra L. 1976. “Black Women in the Era of the American Revolution in Pennsylvania.” The Journal of Negro History 61 (3): 276–289.