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Colonial New York Slave Codes: Law and Order

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Colonial New York Slave Codes: Law and Order Colonial New York Slave Codes: Law and Order In this activity students read slave codes from colonial New York and respond to them from the perspective of one of four identities: Slave-owning white, Non-slave-owning white, Slave, or Free African American. Objectives 1. You will describe the fears of slave owners based on the laws they passed in colonial New York. 2. You will determine the consequences of slave codes on the lives of enslaved and free African Americans in colonial New York. 3. You will craft responses to the slave codes from the perspective of one of four colonial personas. Instructions 1. Step 1: There is a gallery walk in the classroom – with each of seven colonial New York slave codes at different points around the room. In addition to the text of the law, there enough room for you to write your responses on the sheet of paper. 2. Step 2: Each of you will be assigned one of four identities: Slave-owning white, Non-slave-owning white, Slave, or Free African American. You are to imagine what it would be like to be the person of your identity in colonial New York, based on your readings and class discussion. 3. Step 3: Having been assigned an identity, you are now to proceed to each of the seven laws and write your reaction to each from the perspective of your assigned identity. You should tell whether the law seems necessary from your perspective and why or why not. Ultimately, we will have to guess which type of person left which response, so your answers need to make sense! 4. Step 4: After you have circulated to all the laws, I will choose several responses to each law and read them aloud. Can you determine which "identity" left which response? 5. Step 5: Discussion: o How did it feel to be in character? Did the laws seem fair? o What fears did whites have about enslaved African Americans? How did their fears affect the lives of free and enslaved African Americans? o Did laws get more or less severe over time? What historical events might have contributed to the changes? o Did the laws create “others?” Colonial New York Slave Codes A) 1681-1683: Slaves are forbidden to leave their masters' houses without permission B) 1681-1683: Slaves cannot own weapons C) 1681-1683: Slaves cannot gather in groups larger than four D) 1697: No person of African descent may be buried in the city's church graveyard E) 1702: Masters may punish their slaves for any misdeed, however they choose, short of killing them F) 1712: No slave over the age of 14 may be out at night without a lantern G) 1713: Black code-Any slave convicted of conspiring to revolt against masters or any whites will suffer a horrible death Slave Laws in British Colonial New York, 1664—1731 As the population of enslaved Africans grew, colonial elites in New York passed laws to restrict the activities and movements of black residents. These laws were similar to laws passed in Virginia and Maryland, indicating that white fears of slave rebellion were widespread. Following an attempted slave insurrection in New York in 1712, British authorities passed an even harsher set of laws known as the “Black Code.” The wording of the laws has been changed to improve clarity. 1664 • No Christian can be held in slavery. 1681-1683 • Slaves may not leave their masters’ houses without permission. • Slaves may not own weapons. • Slaves may not gather in groups larger than four. • White people and free black people may not entertain slaves in their homes. • White people and free black people may not sell liquor to slaves. 1692 • Slaves who make noise in the street on Sundays will be whipped. 1697 • People of African descent may not be buried in the town cemetery. 1702 • Slaves may not gather in groups larger than three. • Slaves who break this law will receive 40 lashes on the naked back. • Masters may punish their slaves for any misdeed in any way they wish except killing them or cutting off their limbs. 1706 • Masters are no longer obligated to free slaves who convert to Christianity. • Children born to enslaved women are slaves for life. 1707 • Newly freed black people may not own or inherit land. 1708 • Any slave who murders his or her master will be tortured and killed. • Any slave who plots with others to murder his or her master will be tortured and killed. 1712 • Any slave who plots with others to revolt will be tortured and killed. • No slave can ever own a gun or pistol. • No black person who becomes free after 1712 may own a house or pass property on to their children. • To free a slave, the master must pay a 200-pound bond, to cover the costs should the freed slave ever become a public charge. 1713 • No slave 14 years or older may go out after dark without a lantern. 1722 • Funerals for slaves and free African Americans must be held during daylight. 1731 • Slaves could not gamble for money • Slaves who rode a horse too fast or dangerously in the city could be whipped .
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