
How did the African Americans of Washington DC live their lives before the Civil War
Before the Civil War of 1861-1865, the City of Washington had a growing number of free black population who carried on their business without much interference. They worked as skilled craftsmen, hack drivers, shopkeepers and laborers. On the dark side the city also had enslaved African Americans.
Washington DC was the site of slave auctions before the Compromise of 1850 between the slave states of the South and the free states of the North.
Visit the Anacostia Museum's website to learn more about the history of the African Americans - http://anacostia.si.edu/

