Cincinnati riots of 1829 facts for kids

The Cincinnati race riots of 1829 were a series of violent events in Cincinnati, Ohio. These riots happened because people were fighting over jobs. Many Irish immigrants were arriving and competing with Black people, including those who were free or had escaped slavery.

White residents in Cincinnati also worried about the fast growth of the Black population. This was especially true in the three years before the riots. Business owners complained that poor neighborhoods near the river made their shops look bad. They also worried about trade with Southern plantation owners.

Skilled workers, called artisans, did not want to teach Black people their trades. They also tried to keep Black people from getting skilled jobs. In June 1829, city officials announced a rule. Black people had to pay a special fee of $500 (about $15,000 today) within 30 days. If they didn't, they would be forced to leave Cincinnati and Ohio. This rule was part of an old law from 1807 called the Black Law. It was meant to stop Black people from settling in Ohio.

Some Black people had already thought about moving to Canada. They believed Canada would be more welcoming. They did not like the idea of the American Colonization Society. This group wanted to send free Black people "back to Africa". Black Americans had lived in the United States for many generations. They wanted to have equal rights.

The idea of enforcing the Black Law made some Black leaders decide to leave the United States. The riots destroyed many homes in the First Ward, where many Black people lived. Because of this, about 1,100 to 1,500 Black people decided to leave Cincinnati for good. Free Black people, former slaves, and white people who supported them gave money to help those who had to leave. Some moved to other places in the United States. A smaller group moved to Canada. Most settled in towns in Ontario where many Black refugees already lived. A group with more money started their own settlement called the Wilberforce Colony.

Black Americans who stayed in Cincinnati faced more attacks from white rioters in 1836 and 1841. But by 1841, they had become stronger in the city. They used the political system to get better treatment. Violence against Black people was common in Northern states during this time.

Why the Riots Happened

Cincinnati is in southern Ohio, which was a free state. This meant slavery was not allowed there. However, many people who moved to Cincinnati came from Southern states. These states allowed slavery. So, Cincinnati was influenced by Southern ideas. It was seen as a mix of Southern economy and Western growth.

City Growth and New Arrivals

In the early 1800s, steamboats became popular. This made shipping and trade on the Ohio and Mississippi rivers grow a lot. Cincinnati grew very quickly because of this. Many new people came to the city looking for work. This created a tough and competitive environment. Many immigrants also arrived, especially from Ireland and Germany.

Irish immigrants started coming earlier in the 1800s. They found work building canals and roads in Ohio. These projects included the Miami and Erie Canal in Cincinnati. The Irish competed for jobs with the growing number of Black Americans. Many of these Black Americans came from Kentucky and Virginia.

Growing Black Population

Between 1820 and 1829, the number of Black people in Cincinnati grew very fast. Most of these new arrivals were free Black people and former slaves from the South. They were still at risk of being captured by slave catchers. The Black population in Cincinnati grew from 433 to 2,258 during this time. The total city population grew from 9,642 to 24,831 by 1830. This meant Black people went from 4.5% to 9% of the city's population. Cincinnati had the largest Black population of any city in the "Old West" for most of the 1800s.

New residents, both Irish and Black, often lived in poor conditions. They crowded into available housing or built small shacks. They lived in poor neighborhoods near the river. Most workers lived close enough to walk to their jobs.

White Fears and Job Competition

Ohio had tried to stop free Black people from settling there. But the fast growth of the Black population in Cincinnati made many white people worried. Business owners worried that the large Black population near the river would scare away steamboat travelers. They also feared it would hurt trade with Southern plantation owners. Others thought the poverty of Black people would make Cincinnati look bad. They called Cincinnati the "Queen City" and wanted it to have a good image.

Skilled workers, like craftsmen and artisans, were already facing problems. New machines were changing how things were made. They felt pressure to lower their costs. Factory owners also divided jobs into smaller, less skilled tasks. They gave these low-skilled jobs to Black people and women. The artisans did not like Black people in the job market. They refused to take Black people as apprentices. They often blamed Black people for their problems.

In 1826, almost half of the people in the First Ward were Black. This area was near the river and had an African Methodist Episcopal Church. White residents complained that the poor shacks were fire hazards. Cincinnati did not have good city services at the time. The city council, made up of business owners, knew the housing was poor. But they did not do anything about it.

By 1829, there was more opposition to Black migration across Ohio. A group called the American Colonization Society was formed. They encouraged Black people to move to Africa. But in Cincinnati, like in Philadelphia, many free Black people had families who had lived in the U.S. for generations. They did not want to leave. People in Cincinnati started saying they would only vote for leaders who would limit the number of Black residents.

After the election, on June 30, 1829, city officials announced they would enforce the 1807 Ohio Black Law. This law said Black people had to pay a special bond within 30 days. If not, they would be forced out of Cincinnati and Ohio. The law would be "rigidly enforced." A newspaper editor said the law was for homeless people or runaway slaves. But Black people born in Ohio worried it would be used against all Black people. They feared it would hurt working-class Black people.

Leaders in the free Black community had already thought about other places to live. They were tired of unfair treatment in Ohio. They heard that conditions in Ontario, Canada were more accepting. Many escaped slaves had already gone there. They wanted a place where they could live freely. When the bond law was announced, they feared mob violence. They asked the public for three more months to find new places to live. They put daily notices in the newspaper from July 30 to August 10 about their progress.

The Riots of 1829

Between August 15 and August 22, groups of 200-300 white people attacked Black areas of the First Ward. They wanted to force Black people out of the city. Many of these attackers were Irish men. Some Black people moved away, but others fought back to defend themselves. City officials did little to protect Black people until August 24. On that day, the mayor, Isaac G. Burnet, dropped charges against ten Black people who had been arrested. He fined eight white people. By the end of August, 1,100 to 1,500 Black people had left Cincinnati. Some were refugees from the violence, looking for safety anywhere. Another group, who had already planned to leave, organized to move to Canada.

According to Black Americans John Malvin and James C. Brown, they wanted to have their civil rights. They wanted to "live free from unfair laws." This was their main reason for moving to Canada. After the riots, about 460 to 2,000 people moved to Canada to escape the continued attacks. Most settled in towns that already existed. But many families bought land and together started the Wilberforce Colony in Ontario. Only a few families reached the colony in the first year. After clearing land and building homes, the new families of Wilberforce built a school for their children.

What Happened Next

Black American leaders in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, which had a large free Black population, started the first national Negro Convention in 1830. One of the main topics they discussed was the meaning of the Cincinnati riot. These leaders continued to work to create better chances for Black people in education and jobs. They also organized politically to share their views.

Social tensions and competition led to more white-led riots against Black people in Cincinnati in 1836 and 1841. Many immigrants continued to arrive from Europe. By 1840, more than 46% of the city's population was born in other countries. Many lower-class immigrants competed directly with Black people for jobs. This was especially true as factories reduced the number of skilled artisan jobs. By 1841, Black people had become stronger in Cincinnati. They were able to use the political system to get some protection and fairness during these difficult times.