#AP African American Studies: Brazil & The United States - A Comparative Study Guide 🇧🇷🇺🇸

Hey there! Let's get you prepped for the AP exam with a deep dive into the differences between slavery in Brazil and the US. This guide is designed to be your go-to resource, especially the night before the exam. Let's make sure you're feeling confident and ready to ace it! 💪

#Enslavement in Brazil: Scale, Culture, and Shifts

#Scale of African Enslavement 🌍

• Massive Influx: Brazil received the largest number of enslaved Africans in the Americas, with approximately 5 million people landing on its shores. That's half of the 10 million who survived the brutal Middle Passage! 🤯
• Diverse Labor: Enslaved Africans were forced into various labor roles that evolved over time:
  • Sugar plantations 🍬
  • Gold mines ⛏️
  • Coffee plantations ☕
  • Cattle ranching 🐄
  • Production of food and textiles for domestic consumption 🧺

#Preservation of African Culture 🎭

• Cultural Hubs: The sheer number of African-born individuals in Brazil led to the formation of communities that maintained and preserved their cultural heritage.
• Enduring Traditions: Some of these African cultural practices still thrive in Brazil today:
  • Capoeira: A martial art developed by enslaved Africans, combining music, dance, and call-and-response singing. 🤸🏾u200d♂️
  • Congada: A celebration honoring the King of Kongo and Our Lady of the Rosary. 👑
• Key Reason: The large number of enslaved Africans allowed them to maintain their traditions and pass them down through generations. 💡

#Shifts in Enslaved Populations 📉

• Brazil's Decline: Throughout the 19th century, the number of enslaved Africans in Brazil gradually decreased, while the free Black population grew significantly.
  • Manumission: This shift was primarily due to the increased frequency of manumission (release from slavery) in Brazil. 📜
  • Iberian & Catholic Influence: Influenced by Iberian laws and the Catholic Church, which encouraged the freeing of enslaved individuals.
  • Pre-Abolition Freedom: By the time Brazil abolished slavery in 1888, around 4 million people of African ancestry were already free. 🥳
  • 1888 Abolition: The abolition of slavery in Brazil in 1888 freed the remaining 1.5 million Africans who were still enslaved. 🎉

#Contrasting Trajectories: Brazil vs. The United States 🔄

#US's Increasing Enslaved Population 📈

• Continued Growth: In contrast to Brazil, the number of enslaved Africans in the United States continued to rise throughout the 19th century, despite the 1808 ban on importing enslaved Africans. 🚫
• Birth into Slavery: This increase was primarily due to the children of enslaved people being born into enslavement themselves, perpetuating the institution. 👶🏾
• Emancipation: By the time of the Emancipation Proclamation, which declared the freedom of enslaved people in the Confederate states during the American Civil War, approximately 4 million Africans remained enslaved in the United States. 😔
• **Sc...