Type: Exhibition caption

Detail: In early nineteenth century, some New Jerseyans advocated the removal of black residents to Africa. Reverend Robert Finley of Basking Ridge played an important role in the founding of the American Colonization Society in 1816. A New Jersey chapter of the society was founded in 1824, and revived in 1838. In 1853, the society purchased a ship, the Saluda, and 160,000 acres of land to be added to the Liberian colony. Ultimately, few African Americans moved to Liberia from New Jersey, where most black residents opposed the movement. This pamphlet published by the New Jersey Colonization Society gives a romanticized view of the movement.

Type: Exhibition case

Name: African Americans in New Jersey before the Civil War

Detail: A large and vibrant African-American community lived in New Jersey before the Civil War. On the eve of the conflict, the black population was 25, 336 out of a total of 646,699. Years after the abolition of slavery, African Americans still lacked legal and political rights. The new state constitution of 1844 restricted voting to white male citizens. African Americans in New Jersey also faced poverty, job discrimination, and racism. The Fugitive Slave Bill subjected escapees from the South to deportation. During the tense period leading up to the conflict, African-American community leaders emerged to play important roles in the abolition movement and the Underground Railroad.