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Size | 1 item |
Abstract | Sixteen-page document, which appears to be presented as a speech, explaining and justifying the purpose of the American Colonization Society. The speaker cites the 1821 acquisition of Cape Montserrado on west coast of Africa, population data from the 1830 census (warning about the dangers of a growing Black population in the United States), and the Southampton Insurrection led by Nat Turner in 1831 (claiming to be about 1-2 years since "we heard of whole states agitated & alarmed"), as well as providing a lengthy justification of colonization with the mission of Christianity. The speech concludes by noting the need for funding. The American Colonization Society (originally known as the Society for the Colonization of Free People of Color of America) was formed in 1816 to send free African Americans to Africa as an alternative to remaining in the United States. |
Creator | American Colonization Society |
Curatorial Unit | University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Library. Southern Historical Collection. |
Language | English |
Processed by: Chaitra Powell and Dawne Howard Lucas, September 2021
Encoded by: Dawne Howard Lucas, September 2021
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The American Colonization Society (originally known as the Society for the Colonization of Free People of Color of America), was formed in 1816 to send free African Americans to Africa as an alternative to remaining in the United States. In 1822, the society established a colony on the west coast of Africa that became the independent nation of Liberia in 1847. The Society bought the land for the colony, Cape Montserrado, by force.
In August 1831, a group of more than 70 enslaved and free Black individuals, led by Nat Turner, killed at least 50 white people during the Southampton Insurrection (also known as Nat Turner's Rebellion) in Southampton County, Va., with rumors that the revolt had spread throughout the South. This rebellion, combined with the growing Black population in the United States, was used to reinforce the importance of ACS's mission.
Back to TopSixteen-page document, which appears to be presented as a speech, explaining and justifying the purpose of the American Colonization Society. The speaker cites the 1821 acquisition of Cape Montserrado on west coast of Africa, population data from the 1830 census (warning about the dangers of a growing Black population in the United States), and the Southampton Insurrection led by Nat Turner in 1831 (claiming to be about 1-2 years since "we heard of whole states agitated & alarmed"), as well as providing a lengthy justification of colonization with the mission of Christianity. The speech concludes by noting the need for funding.
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