The Empire State, Not Quite So Empire-y: How Many Folks Were Actually Enslaved in New York?
Ah, New York. The city that never sleeps, the land of Broadway dreams, and...a place with a surprisingly tangled history with slavery? Yep, you read that right. While New York might conjure up images of Wall Street suits and fancy hot dog stands these days, things were a good deal different back in the day.
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| How Many Slaves Were In New York State |
So, How Many Enslaved People Were There?
Now, before you start picturing giant plantations worked by legions of folks in chains, hold on a sec. New York wasn't exactly a Deep South kind of situation. While slavery did exist, the numbers were far lower than in the southern states.
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Here's the gist:
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- The 1800s: This is where we have some decent data. The census back then counted around 12,362 enslaved people. That might sound like a lot, but compared to the South's numbers, it was a drop in the bucket.
- The Before Times: Things get fuzzier the further back you go. Estimates suggest that during colonial times, up to 20% of New Yorkers might have been enslaved. That's a significant chunk of folks, but again, the scale was different from down South.
Basically, New York wasn't a major slaveholding state, but it definitely wasn't innocent either.
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But Why Even Have Slaves in New York? They Don't Exactly Have Cotton Fields There...
True, New York wasn't exactly prime real estate for growing cotton. So, what was the deal?
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- A Different Kind of "Cash Crop": New York's economy relied more on things like shipping and trade. Enslaved people often worked as domestic servants, laborers on docks, or skilled craftworkers.
- The Money Trail: New York City, in particular, was a major hub for the slave trade. Many a wealthy New Yorker made a tidy profit by selling enslaved people to the South.
So, while the use of enslaved labor might not have been as widespread as down South, New York still benefitted from the institution in significant ways.
Okay, Enough History, How'd This Whole Slavery Thing End in New York?
New York wasn't exactly at the forefront of the abolitionist movement. Slavery wasn't officially abolished in the state until 1827. Yes, really. That's later than most northern states.
The good news? It eventually happened, and that's something to celebrate.
Frequently Asked Questions (Because Let's Be Honest, History Class Can Be Zzzzzz)
How to:
- Travel back in time and convince New Yorkers to abolish slavery sooner? Unfortunately, that technology isn't quite there yet. Maybe ask a scientist, not a history buff.
- Learn more about slavery in New York? There are tons of great resources online and in libraries. Museums are another fantastic option!
- Help fight modern slavery? It's a terrible truth, but slavery still exists today. There are many organizations working to end it. Do some research and see how you can get involved.
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