Black suffrage in Pennsylvania facts for kids

Before the 1800s, some wealthy Black men in Pennsylvania could vote, just like rich white men. But then, voting rules changed. More white men, even those who weren't rich, were allowed to vote. This was called "universal manhood suffrage" (meaning all adult men could vote).

However, as voting rights expanded for white men, they actually shrank for Black men. Even wealthy Black men lost their right to vote. This change showed a shift in society: instead of judging people by how much money they had, people started judging them more by their race.

This article will explain why Black men lost their right to vote in Pennsylvania, what happened because of it, and how the Black community fought back.

Voting Rights in Early Pennsylvania

In the 1800s, society started to focus more on a person's race than their social class. During the 1830s, the Pennsylvania anti-slavery movement changed a lot. Many people who were not Quakers joined, and the movement became more direct in its demands.

This led to different ideas about how to end slavery. Quakers usually preferred peaceful methods like petitions and wanted slavery to end slowly. But a new group, called "immediatists," wanted slavery to end right away and completely.

Before 1838, the Pennsylvania constitution said that "every freeman… shall enjoy the rights of an elector." This meant that any free man could vote. But people had different ideas about what "freeman" meant. Most white men thought it meant only free white men could vote. However, the African-American community believed it included them too. Because of this, Black men had voted in past elections, especially in smaller towns where they felt safer from angry white crowds in cities.

The 1838 Pennsylvania Constitutional Convention

In 1838, a special meeting was held in Pennsylvania to change the state's constitution. The main goal was to remove rules about taxes and owning property so that poorer citizens could vote.

But during this meeting, many white citizens in Philadelphia asked for a big change: they wanted voting rights to be only for white men. On January 20, 1838, their wish was granted. The constitution was changed to say that only "white freemen" could vote.

A man named John Z Ross tried to explain why this change was made. He said that while "all men are free and equal" in nature, this idea didn't apply to Black citizens when it came to politics. He argued that taking away Black men's voting rights was for the "security and happiness" of the communities. He also claimed that Black men didn't understand "civil liberty" enough to vote.

The "Appeal of 40,000 Citizens"

One of the most famous responses from the African-American community was a document called "Appeal of 40,000 citizens threatened with disenfranchisement to the people of Pennsylvania." This important paper was written by Robert Purvis.

The "Appeal" explained many reasons why Black people should have the same right to vote as white people. It was presented on March 14, 1838, as a challenge to the convention's decision. The document proudly stated that the African-American community was Pennsylvanian and should be allowed to help with its democracy. It famously said, "don’t starve our patriotism".

The "Appeal" also pointed out that the Black population in Pennsylvania, which was 18,768 people, paid at least $1,350,000 in taxes every year. They also helped the economy by owning homes, renting properties, paying water bills, and working in many different jobs. The document argued that the African-American community should not be punished just to keep "white blood" from being "sullied by an intermixture with [theirs]."

Even though these actions didn't immediately give Black men their voting rights back, they were important steps. They helped start the long journey toward political freedom for Black people in Pennsylvania.

What Happened Next for the African-American Community

The most obvious result was that African-American men lost their right to vote. They wouldn't get it back until 1870, with the 15th Amendment to the United States Constitution (though it was delayed until 1873 in Pennsylvania). This also meant they lost the small amount of political power they had.

This change also created a stronger "us versus them" feeling, leading to more hatred towards the African-American community.

To work towards racial equality, a building called Pennsylvania Hall was built in Philadelphia. Its main purpose was to hold meetings against slavery. It opened on May 14, 1838. But just four days later, angry anti-Black rioters burned it to the ground.

This event showed how strong and dangerous anti-Black groups were in Pennsylvania. A building meant for "virtue, liberty and independence" was destroyed. The community not only lost a place to fight for voting rights but also their $40,000 investment. Even before the building was finished, people involved in the project were getting threats. This showed how deeply divided society was by race.