Question

Describe the motives for the men who sell Solomon into slavery. How is it even possible to sell a free citizen? How do they convince Solomon to come with them?

Answer 1

Solomon Northup was born in 1807 in New York. Although his father had been born a slave, Northup was born free.

After Northup´s father,Mintus,became free, this man bought some lands in order to  comply with the property ownership condition imposed on African American people for them to be able to vote.Thanks to his father, Solomon was able to work in the land and was provided with education.

In 1841, in the city of Saratoga Springs, two men approached Northup and offered him some money in exchange for his work as a fiddler. They claimed they worked as circus performers.

Once they arrived Washington D.C., Solomon was completely deceived by these people.He was administered some drugs and locked in a cell. After this episode, he was sent to New Orleans and later sold as a slave.

Finally,he was later rescued in 1853 when he had the opportunity to contact his family and friends through letters and let them know of his situation.

Although he took James H. Birch,the slave dealer, to court; the case was dismissed.