Have you read any information on this? The 19th century was a time of slavery, especially in the south. While it is said there were "free" states in the north, many (if not most) African Americans were not educated. This was also a time when many were trying to search for freedom from poor labor conditions, daily beatings, and an overall sense of not being able to do anything but work for a white man. This was also a time where the Underground Railroad was going to help those slaves, yet if caught, they were immediately chained and sent back to the south. African Americans were often sold and traded, too.
