Life of Paul Cuffee Essay

More than for 500 old ages. people of African beginnings have shaped the class of non lone American but the history of the whole universe. We are proud of many African americans that had put so much difficult work to do our society as good and developed as it is today. There are tonss of Blacks. who are really celebrated for their workss and merit to be remembered as honest society members. such as Phyllis Wheatley. Benjamin Banneker. Sojourner Truth. Harriet Jacobs and others.

The chief aim of this paper will be the analyses of life and work of Paul Cuffee. Paul Cuffee was born on the 17th of January on Chuttyhunk Island in Southeastern Massachusetts. as a free kid and a boy of an African male parent and Native American female parent. His male parent. named Kofi. was a member of the West-African folk known as Ashanti folk in Ghana. He was captured at that place and brought to America when he was ten. He was made a slave of Ebenezer Slocum. a Friend of Dartmouth. Massachusetts. but the accomplishments of good carpenter helped Kofi ( Cuffe ) to purchase his freedom. He even managed to educate himself and subsequently married to Ruth Moses. who was a Wampanoag Indian from Massachusetts.

The Native Americans were non enslaved. so their kids were born free. Paul did non desire to take the name of his father’s owner and take his father’s name. which was Cuffe ( or Cuffee ) . His household besides owned a 116-acre farm in Westport. which was really rare at that clip as most of the other African people were enslaved. The household was big and counted 10 kids: six girls and four boies ( “A Paul Cuffe Biography” ) . After the decease of his male parent. Paul Cuffee. at the age of 16 and with the cognition merely of an alphabet. already had many ambitious dreams such as acquiring an instruction and holding a calling in transporting industry. The male child ever showed a affinity to pilotage. boatbuilding and trade. When he was a adolescent he constructed little boats.

This avocation ended in trading among the islands of Massachusetts ( “Paul Cuffee ( 1759-1817 ) ” . 2013 ) . He started to make the occupation of an ordinary mariner on fishing and whaling boats – this was in New Bedford. Massachusetts. He was caught and held as a captive by British soldiers for three month during the Revolutionary War. but one time he was released. he managed to get down minor coastal trading. Paul bought some ships together with his sister’s hubby Michael Wainer. who was a Native American. Because of his spouse was afraid to sail large sea distances. in 1779 Cuffee tried to present the lading to Nantucket entirely. but he was waylaid by plagiarists.

He continued to transport aboard a whaler owned by the Quaker merchandisers. outstanding Rotch household and whalers of New Bedford. Despite the fact that plagiarists were really active those yearss and have attached the local crewmans a batch. Paul’s concern was thriving ( “A Paul Cuffe Biography” ) . Cuffe’s concern started to turn and he had adequate money to construct bigger vass and successfully traded north to Labrador and south to Virginia ( “Petition for Relief from Taxation” . 2013 ) . Paul gathered instead large capital that helped him to spread out his ownership and to acquire a fleet of ships.

He commissioned the closed-deck boat. which could transport around 14-15 ton known as Box Iron. Just after that. another accomplishment that followed was a18-20 ton schooner. In the 1780s Paul already owned schooner Sun Fish and schooner Mary. which in sum could transport lading of about 65 dozenss. In 1796. merely right after the mentioned schooners Sunfish and Mary were sold. Cuffee’s shipyard in Westport launched a 69-ton schooner known as Ranger. Finally he could afford to purchase a big farmstead and in 1799 he bought belongings in Westport for $ 3. 500. Subsequently he bought a half of the 162-ton bark Hero. Paul was so affluent. that he possibly was one of the richest adult male among all Native American and African American of the in the United States of the nineteenth century ( “A Paul Cuffe Biography” ) . Just a twosome of hebdomads before the Revolution ended. Paul married Alice Pequit. who was besides Wampanoag Indian. the same as Cuffee’s female parent.

This matrimony brought seven kids to Cuffe’s household: David. Sarah. Jonathan. Mary. John. Phebe. Ruth. Lydia. Freelove and Paul. On the 17th of January the youngest boy was born. The kid was biracial. but born free. as the two parents were non enslaved ( Cordeiro. 2004 ) . The Roch household and other successful merchandisers have inspired Paul to construct his ain imperium. which was really successful. The crews that he employed were chiefly African American and Native American people. Finally his ships were on both sides of the Atlantic. He opened an mercantile establishment in New Bedford. where he sold the goods that he imported ( “Paul Cuffee ( 1759-1817 ) ” . 2013 ) .

Bing a man of affairs with an African American and Native American crews. Paul managed to gain the regard of many white Americans through the relationships in the Quaker religion. When Cuffee was 21 he refused to pay revenue enhancements. This protest was done along with his brother and lasted from 1778 boulder clay 1780. The chief motive for that was that free black Americans did non hold the right to vote. but harmonizing to the governmental Torahs of that clip. African Americans were taxed. He even petitioned the council of Bristol County in 1780. Massachusetts to set such revenue enhancement to an terminal. Despite the denial. later his request was one of cardinal factors that led to allowing voting rights to all free male citizens by Legislature in 1783 ( “A Paul Cuffe Biography” ) . Cuffee built a schoolhouse for African American kids on his ain belongings.

He spent his money on that and it took him a twosome of months to complete. After the school was built. Paul hired a knowing instructor and opened the establishment to the Westport occupants. It was for childs. who were denied to see other public schools. He implemented his ain policy to the school’s disposal. harmonizing to which kids of all races were allowed to go to the surveies. so the school was multiracial. This was merely a beginning of a future battle against unjust intervention of the US and other authoritiess towards the black people ( Cordeiro. 2004 ) .

The bulk of Anglo-Americans and English origin people considered African as lower race in comparing to Europeans. even in chiefly Calvinist and Quaker New England. Unfortunately the bondage continued. but some nice work forces like James Madison and Presidents Thomas Jefferson thought that settlements out-migration of Blacks outside the US was the best and the easiest manner to the battle the race job in America ( “A Paul Cuffe Biography” ) . Cuffee was involved non merely in local activities.

He played a important portion in national and international events related Blacks in that clip. Because of his successful concern. Cuffee had contact all over the Atlantic seaside. which connected the three of import continents: Europe. North American and Africa ( Cordeiro. 2004 ) . Americans and Europeans put many attempts in all the parts of the universe to colonise Black. but they were all unsuccessful. One of such efforts was related to Sierra Leone colonisation. The Sierra Leone Company was a chief patron of 400 people going from Great Britain to Western African settlement. The settlement was arising and wanted to make a working and competitory economic system and a authorities. which would be strong plenty to defy the outside force per unit area. Finally the Sierra Leone Company collapsed and another establishment known as African Institution was offering migration to the released slaves. which have settled in London and Nova Scotia after the American Revolution.

The institution’s patrons were trusting to acquire some economical benefit by furthering the educated trades of Blacks ( “A Paul Cuffe Biography” ) . Despite the fact that it was really hard to colonise Sierra Leone. Cuffee truly believed that it was a critical option and supported the motion. At the beginning of the 19th century Paul started to collaborate with the mentioned African Institution. which was based in London ( Cordeiro. 2004 ) . In U. S. the organisation was really active in Baltimore. Philadelphia. and New York. This all started in March 1807. when members of the establishment encouraged him to assist them. The chief aim was to advance the in-migration to Sierra Leone. a settlement of Britain in West Africa. Cuffee was among those who recruited African Americans so they can settle at that place ; he transported a large sum of households and explored the local economic system seeking to happen ways of its improving. This was all chiefly done for his ain financess ( “A Paul Cuffe Biography” ) .

Paul Cuffee wrote in his letters. that he truly felt like traveling to Sierra Leone. he wanted to see the state of affairs in the state. He believed that the dwellers of that settlement were talented people. which. every bit good as he did. deserved to experience the true visible radiation of Christianity and be benefited thereby ( “Captain Paul Cuffe’s Logs and Letters” ) . Paul obtained a measure. given by the Committee of the Whole from the Senate and the President of the United States. which gave him a right to go forth US with the lading and come back with a lading from Sierra Leone. He was nominated by authorities and had all the privilege to be treated decently ( “History of Congress” ) .

Cuffee studied all the logistics and the possible result. when eventually on December in 1810 he left U. S. for his first ocean trip to Sierra Leone. He managed to acquire to the settlement on the 1st of March in 1811. He was going all over the topographic point to research the local wonts and economic system in order to happen the possibilities to development. He met the functionaries at that place. but they were against of the colonisation thought. as they were afraid of American merchandisers. because this could make a batch of unjust competition. Furthermore. the lading. which Cuffee intended to merchandise off. did non sell good as the duty charges implemented by British trading system were excessively high.

Finally this did non halt Cuffee and on the 7th of April 1811 he made an assignment with cardinal Black enterpriser. An result was that a particular request for the African Institution was written. which stated that people in the settlement wanted to work in merchanting. whaling industry and agribusiness. This indicated that those three countries were the chief aim of the future growing and development of the settlement. Cuffee together with the black business communities set the Friendly Society foundation in Sierra Leone. Its chief purpose was to guarantee farther prosperity and industry development among all free peoples. Another country to work on was related to interrupting the strong merchandisers trade established at that place by British. Cuffee decided to travel to UK in order to do certain that settlement will acquire farther assistance.

He arrived to Liverpool in July 1811. There he met the functionaries of the African Institution in London. who collected some financess for the Friendly Society. He besides obtained further needed governmental licence and permissions to go on his deputation in Sierra Leone. Paul was happy to come back to the West African settlement where he shared the thoughts of the Friendly Society with the local merchandisers. Together they elaborated programs for Sierra Leone to turn by constructing a proverb factory. grist factory. salt plants and rice-processing mill. Later Cuffee was involved with similar venture. which was backed by Americans and allow to creation of the American Colonization Society and settlement in Liberia ( Cordeiro. 2004 ) . During that period of history the dealingss between the Great Britain and United States were strained. which led to embargo constitution on British goods in 1811.

This had somehow a negative result on Cuffee’s ocean trip. as when in April 1812 he reached Newport on his ship. it was usurped by U. S. imposts officers along with all its lading. This instance was non being resolved locally. so Paul Cuffee left to Washington. D. C. to register an official entreaty to his instance. In the White House he met with the President James Madison and Albert Gallatin. who was a Secretary of the Treasury in that clip. Cuffee was heartily welcomed and treated at that place. Madison was on his side and subsequently ordered to let go of the goods. based on the information that Cuffee did non cognize about the political dissensions and did non present the goods with the purpose to go against any Torahs. Cuffee shared his observations and experience. which he gained during his trip to Sierra Leone.

First the President seemed to be really interested in farther enlargement of the settlement in Africa. but finally he refuses to take part in Cuffee’s farther probes. as he saw this mission non possible because of excessively many jobs and obstructions that U. S. will be confronting during farther efforts of Sierra Leone colonisation. This was all related to the fact that it was ab initio to the full British undertaking. Still Cuffee obtained a legal permission to go an official authorization on Africa in the United States. Cuffee had clear purposes to see Great Britain’s settlement of Sierra Leone on a regular footing. but his programs were interrupted because of the sudden War of 1812. which started in June and was a war between the British Empire and the United States. This prevented Paul from sing the settlement for a piece.

Despite the fact that Cuffee was opposed the war because of his Christian beliefs. he was truly against any breaks that could hold been caused by war and resulted as an impact on trading and goods bringing from Sierra Leone. The war continued. so Cuffee took a alteration to convert U. S and Great Britain to ease limitations on trading. Unfortunately this was unsuccessful and he waited until the war ended in 1815 ( “A Paul Cuffe Biography” ) . Meanwhile. Paul remained an active political life and paid a twosome of visits to Philadelphia. Baltimore and New York. where he spoke to groups of free African Americans about the settlement. He encouraged Blacks to make organisations within their metropoliss. to speak to each other and to hold a correspondence with the Friendly Society at Sierra Leone and the African Institution. A particular booklet with the thoughts of Paul Cuffee related to Sierra Leone was printed at that clip and distributed to general populace.

He rebuilt the Westport Friends’ Meeting House in summer of 1813. which was a meeting house for the multi-racial members of the Society of Friend. where Cuffee spoke and preached on a regular basis on a Sunday meetings. Most of the money for that was coming from Cuffee’s personal financess. It is of import to advert that war impacted Cuffee’s concern and during that twelvemonth he facial fiscal crisis. He has a figure of unprofitable ventures related to ships. One vas was considered unseaworthy and has ne’er returned from Chile. Fortunately the war ended and the Treaty of Ghent was signed at the terminal of 1814. After some clip taken to retrieve. Paul was prepared to travel back to Sierra Leone ( “A Paul Cuffe Biography” ) . The first ship with 38 Blacks shipped from Westport on December 10. 1815. Among the riders were 18 grownups and 20 kids ( Cordeiro. 2004 ) . The monetary value of organisation of that expedition was $ 5000. Eighty per centums of those disbursals were covered by Cuffee.

The remainder was paid by riders and with the aid of contribution by William Rotch from Massachusetts. The settler arrived to the settlement with their ain properties such as hoes. axes. waggon and a plough. but they were non treated every bit good as it was expected by Cuffee. This was related to the fact that Governor was confronting troubles in maintaining the bing population in order. which could hold even decline the state of affairs if more emigrant have arrived. Furthermore. the act known as the Militia Act was imposed upon the settlement and obliges males to curse of trueness to the Crown. Peoples had concerns. because it could hold been an duty to travel to military service. Despite the negative result related to economical benefits and gross revenues. the positive was the fact that settler have eventually settles in Freetown.

Cuffee spent tonss of money by back uping the new dwellers with money for the first year’s commissariats. It was planned ab initio that Cuffee will be reimbursed by the African Institution. but due to heavy tariff responsibilities there was a large shortage in the budget. Actually Paul was ne’er given money by the African Institution in Britain. After coming back to USA in 1816. Cuffee searched for fiscal support from New York’ division of the American Institution and has finally obtained $ 439. 62 for farther investings into Sierra Leone’s settlers ( “A Paul Cuffe Biography” ) . Soon in1816. Cuffee proposed a newly-designed out-migration program for African Americans. which was related non merely to Sierra Leone but besides perchance to Haiti. Supply financess. Congress did non O.K. the request to supply financess for that.

Peoples all over U. S. have started to demo more and more involvement in in-migration to Africa. believing that it would assist to work out the racial jobs. Cuffee was seeking to happen support from other establishments. but some of them were non honorable. such as American Colonization Society ( ACS ) . which was alarmed as a racialist organisation. The thoughts were supported by many other Americans. but later they turned in favour of out-migration to Haiti. where the immigrants were welcomed and supported by the President Boyer Since 1817 Cuffee was non experiencing himself good and has ne’er visited Africa once more. He died in September of that twelvemonth surrounded by his household and friends. Cuffee was buried at the Quaker Meeting House near Westport ( Cordeiro. 2004 ) .

To reason. it should be mentioned that Cuffee was and is considered one of the greatest individuals in Afro-american history. He was a first Afro-american who had a success in execution of thoughts of Blacks. He fought the bing racism of that clip with the aid of tolerant and Christian methods. Not merely he opposed himself. but he besides managed to brood public attending to the current state of affairs with Blacks. which helped people a batch. He was a successful man of affairs. who could hold had merely a happy and unagitated life. but spent his clip and attempt to research Sierra Leone. donated his ain money to do the life of immigrants at that place every bit good as possible and helped in many other ways to people. I think this individual is deserving to be admired and remembered thought all future coevalss of the universe.

Mentions
A Paul Cuffe Biography. ( n. d. ) SlideShare. Inc. Retrieved from hypertext transfer protocol: //www. slideshare. net/rbgstreetscholar1/a-paul-cuffe-biography Paul Cuffee ( 1759-1817 ) . ( 2013 ) . Paul Cuffee School. Retrieved from hypertext transfer protocol: //www. paulcuffee. org/about/mission-history/paul-cuffee/ Request for Relief from Taxation. ( 2013 ) . Abstract. Pearson Education. Retrieved from hypertext transfer protocol: //www. infoplease. com/t/hist/cuffe-taxation-petition/ Cordeiro. B. N. ( 2004 ) . Paul Cuffe: A Survey of His Life and the Status of His Bequest in Old Dartmouth. Boston. MA: University of Massachusetts Boston. Retrieved from hypertext transfer protocol: //paulcuffe. place. comcast. net/~paulcuffe/Paul_Cuffe_Thesis_by_Brock_Cordeiro. pdf Captain Paul Cuffe’s Logs and Letters. ( n. d. ) . Estimed froends John James and Alexander Wilson. Westport 6 minute 10th 1809. Paul Cuffee. Retrieved from hypertext transfer protocol: //atlanticslaverydebate. Stanford. edu/sites/default/files/shared/ASD/Module2/InitialCrrspdnceCuffe1809. pdf History of Congress. ( n. d. ) . A Century of Lawmaking for a New State: U. S. Congressional Documents and Debates. 1774 – 1875. The Library of Congress. Retrieved from hypertext transfer protocol: //memory. loc. gov/cgi-bin/ampage? collId=llac & A ; fileName=027/llac027. dubnium & A ; recNum=221