In his 33 short years of life, Abraham Galloway impacted the course of American history more than men who lived to be twice his age—beginning with his bold escape from slavery. In the span of just a little more than a decade, he risked his life as a spy for the Union Army during the Civil War, helped raise regiments of Black men fighting for the freedom of their race, campaigned for the rights of women and Blacks, and served two terms as a Republican state senator of the state into which he was born into bondage.
Galloway was born to an enslaved woman and White father on February 8, 1837, in Smithville (now Southport), a small coastal town in Brunswick County, N.C. At 11, he was apprenticed to a brick mason, and eventually became skilled at the trade. Before Galloway’s 20th birthday, his owner moved with him to Wilmington, N.C. At his earliest opportunity, the youth—along with another slave, and under the eye of a sympathetic captain—secreted himself in the cargo hold of a schooner bound for Philadelphia. From here, the abolitionist Vigilance Committee conducted him via the Underground Railroad to Canada and freedom.
In the four years prior to the Civil War, Galloway—not content to remain at liberty in Ontario (then known as “Canada West”)—traveled back across the border, establishing strong relationships with noted abolitionists. At great personal risk, he ranged from Ohio to New England giving fiery speeches.
In January 1861—just three months before the firing on Fort Sumter—the 23-year-old Galloway sailed to Haiti, along with several other militants, including Francis Merriam, a survivor of John Brown’s abortive raid on the Harpers Ferry arsenal. The group’s agenda was to recruit volunteers for a John Brown-style military invasion of the Southern states, with Haiti as their base of operations. The opening salvos of the war put an abrupt end to their efforts, though, and he sailed back to the United States, resolved to aid in the Union effort.
Galloway then put his life and liberty at risk again by volunteering to return to the slave South—as a spy for the Union Army. For the next two-and-a-half years, he reported directly to Maj. Gen. Benjamin F. Butler, and traveled surreptitiously through North Carolina, Louisiana, and Mississippi, disappearing within Black communities while gathering intelligence. All the while, he had to evade Rebel troops, slave catchers, and White civilians.
After employing Galloway as an agent during his seizure of New Orleans, Butler sent him to Vicksburg along with six companies of the 4th Wisconsin, to assess the city’s defenses. It led to his capture.
No details are known of his apprehension, or of how he regained his freedom. Certainly, if the Confederates had recognized him as a spy, they would have peremptorily hanged him, so he might well have escaped. Galloway, much debilitated from his ordeal, made his way to Union-occupied New Bern, N.C., where a former slave helped restore his health.
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His career in espionage at an end, Galloway divided his time between creating entire regiments by recruiting African Americans from New Bern’s large Black population into the Union Army, and actively advocating for abolition. In late 1863, he traveled 75 miles outside Union lines to Rebel-held Wilmington, N.C., from which he managed to spirit his mother to New Bern and freedom. And, in the words of biographer David S. Cecelski, he also “developed a genius for politics. Among North Carolina’s freed people, he became a grassroots organizer, a coalition builder, and an inspiring orator.”
At this time, he met and married 18- or 19-year old Martha Ann Dixon, the daughter of slaves, and according to an observer, “a priceless gem among the sands of poor Beaufort.” Martha Ann shared her new husband’s burning passion for abolition and Black suffrage, and composed several fiery missives for the Anglo-African newspaper.
After President Lincoln’s January 1863 Emancipation Proclamation, the U.S. Army aggressively recruited former slaves and free Blacks to military service with posters.
A powerful speaker, Galloway drew large crowds, whom he impressed with his eloquence and fervor. Commented one observer who attended one of Galloway’s orations at New Bern’s Andrew Chapel, “He handled secessionists and…Copperheads without gloves, and his speech was received with roars of laughter and great applause.”
By the spring of 1864, the war still had another year to run. On April 29, Galloway led a delegation of Black Southerners—some of them former slaves—to the nation’s capital, and into a meeting with President Abraham Lincoln. By now, there were tens of thousands of African Americans in blue uniforms, and Galloway’s priorities had grown from simply promoting Black enlistments into the Union Army. Looking to a postwar future, he broadened his scope to include unilateral Black suffrage, as well as social and political equality. To his thinking, America’s Blacks should, and eventually would, vote and hold public office.
Although Lincoln had met with Northern Black luminaries, including Frederick Douglass, during the course of the war, according to biographer Cecelski, “[T]his seems to have been his first meeting with African American leaders from the South.” The delegation presented Lincoln with a petition, urging the President, in part, “to finish the noble work you have begun, and grant unto your petitioners that greatest of privileges…to exercise the right of suffrage, which will greatly extend our sphere of usefulness, redound to your honor, and cause posterity, to the latest generation, to acknowledge their deep sense of gratitude.” The first signature on the petition was that of Abraham Galloway.
Lincoln listened respectfully to their comments, and—according to the Anglo-African—gave them “assurances of his sympathy and cooperation.” The delegation then walked to the Capitol, where they distributed copies of the petition to the congressmen.
Immediately after his visit to the White House, Galloway led members of his delegation on a tour of the Northern states, during which he took every opportunity to speak on behalf of Black suffrage.
On his return to New Bern, Galloway was selected to represent North Carolina as a delegate to the National Convention of Colored Men of the United States, in Syracuse, N.Y., from which was born the National Equal Rights League. It was a powerful assemblage, and Galloway stood out as a major luminary. The Convention elected Frederick Douglass its president, and Galloway among its vice presidents. On taking office, Douglass asked Galloway to serve on the executive board.
Veterans of the 35th United States Colored Troops Regiment pose with family members during a 1905 reunion in Plymouth, N.C. The 35th formed in nearby New Bern, N.C., on June 30, 1863.
Returning to New Bern only briefly, he spent considerable time in New York City and Boston, fundraising and addressing political functions. “He seemed to appear everywhere,” Cecelski writes, “and at any time, always active and on the run.” Then, in mid-December 1864, Abraham’s and Martha Ann’s first son, John, was born. The John Brown League, of which Galloway had become president, presented the couple with a finely engraved Bible—the first family Bible either family had owned.
Two years after the war ended, Galloway was named a delegate to the Constitutional Convention in Raleigh. The following year, Abraham Galloway—former escaped slave and self-made activist for his people—became North Carolina’s first Black elector. He was twice elected to the state Senate—in 1868 and again in 1870.
Abraham Galloway died unexpectedly on September 1, 1870, just six months after the birth of a second son, Abraham Jr., and shortly following his reelection to the state Senate. Despite constant threats on his life, there was no indication of foul play; Martha Ann later revealed that he had long suffered from both rheumatism and what she referred to as “heart troubles.” More than 6,000 people attended his funeral.
Ultimately, in advocating for Black suffrage and social equality, Abraham Galloway was a civil rights leader at a time when the concept of civil rights had not yet been fully formed. Had he lived longer, history might well have ranked him alongside Frederick Douglass as one of the most influential Black men of his time. As it was, his brief political career aside, Galloway’s contribution to the Union war effort alone was extraordinary, motivated by a driving commitment to the emancipation of his people. Perhaps his self-defined mission was best defined by biographer Cecelski: “Galloway’s war had little to do with that of Grant or Lee, Vicksburg or Cold Harbor. It had nothing to do with states’ rights or preserving the Union. Galloway’s Civil War was a slave insurgency, a war of liberation that was the culmination of generations of perseverance and faith. It was, ultimately, the slaves’ Civil War.”
Ron Soodalter writes from Cold Spring, N.Y.
This article first appeared in America’s Civil War magazine
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the greatest human achievement?
It's a great accomplishment when you make a positive difference in the world and do something that makes a real difference. It's when you create something new and different that isn't available before.
It doesn't matter how much you make or how many people help you, great achievement is measured by the impact you have on the world.
The greatest achievements aren't the ones where we find answers. We already know what the answer is. But the greatest achievements are those that change the way we look at life. This changed our outlook.
Many great accomplishments are often small, because they are achieved slowly and quietly. They may not even seem important at the time. However, they will have a lasting impact on your life.
There are two kinds of greatness: the one that lasts forever and that that fades away. It is possible to create something that people love and cherish for many generations.
Because people admire great accomplishments more when they don’t know the source, it’s often done anonymously.
But great achievements fade away quickly. They might be lying if they tell you. Because you are used to seeing greatness as a permanent state of affairs, this is why it can be hard for you to believe them.
It's easy for greatness to fade away, so it's easy not to see its importance. So you could say that great achievements are rare. It is rare that anyone ever achieves them.
What are the Top 5 Innovations in Human History?
Fire was the most significant innovation in human history. Fire has changed the course of our relationship to nature. It allowed us the ability to heat and cook in frigid weather. It enabled us to control light heat and electricity.
Fire enabled us to create tools, weapons, and even cities.
Fire gave us humans the ability to be more intelligent. We were able to communicate more effectively, learn faster, and travel further.
Inventions such as writing, printing, and gunpowder followed shortly after. This made information easier to share.
Technological advances have also brought about social changes. To provide safety, security, and comfort, people started to live in groups.
Human beings began to congregate into larger communities and eventually nations. This was the beginning of governments, laws, religions, and other institutions.
Finally, medicine and sanitation became widespread. With these advances came the rise of the middle class.
These inventions created an environment where humankind could thrive. Humanity had finally found its way out of the cave.
Technology continues its revolution in today's world. New technologies are constantly being developed to make life easier, more secure, and more convenient.
We've made so many strides but still face many obstacles. Climate change is one of these challenges.
Climate change is the result of burning fossil fuels. Carbon dioxide is released when fossil fuels like oil, coal, and gas are burned.
Carbon dioxide traps heat near Earth's surface making temperatures higher than they would be.
This causes glaciers melt, which leads to sea level rising. Coral reefs will die as the oceans warm.
This makes coastal areas uninhabitable.
Many millions have been forced to flee their homes. Many countries have declared military war on climate changes.
But despite all this, we can't stop developing new technologies. Why not? Because if that happens, we won’t survive.
Which invention is the worst?
The best inventions make it easier to live comfortably. However, there have been some unfortunate inventions.
One example is the internal combustion motor. This invention was essential to the industrial revolution. It also made life easier. However, global warming can be caused by carbon dioxide released when fossil fuels are burned for energy.
Another invention is the laser. The laser can be used to destroy objects up to a mile away. However, this device can also cause blindness and burns as well as death.
The atomic bomb is another example. A city could be destroyed by an explosion from this weapon.
Because they improve our lives, inventions are wonderful. But, they can also cause us harm. These harmful inventions are nuclear weapons, internal combustion engines (ICM), and atomic missiles.
What have been the greatest achievements made by humanity in the last fifty years?
In the past fifty years, the greatest human achievement has been the ability to communicate across great distances at unprecedented speeds and accuracy. This is without doubt the most significant technological breakthrough in human history.
The internet is a collection of tubes that connect the world. These tubes are made up of fiber optic cables. Each cable transmits information at up to 10 gigabits/second - which is more than 1,000,000 times faster than the average home broadband connection.
This technology allows people to communicate across borders and share their knowledge and culture. It's no longer necessary to travel physically to another country in order to be able to instantly access all information.
The amazing advances in medicine, science and technology are also due to our ability share information. Scientists can sequence genomes in fractions of the time it took twenty years ago.
In addition, technological advances mean that researchers can simulate complex biological processes in real time. This means that we are finally beginning to uncover the secrets behind diseases like Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease, and cancer.
These innovations could save millions of people's lives.
This amazing technology has its downsides. The internet has become a major part of our day-today lives in recent years. This dependency has created many problems, such as cyberbullying online, online scams and identity theft.
But the biggest problem may lie ahead. The danger of a global cyber-crisis is growing as more people become dependent on the internet.
As internet dependence grows, so does our vulnerability. Businesses could lose billions of dollars in productivity if the internet stops working for any length of time. Our health records, financial transactions, and government communications would be compromised.
Already, we are seeing signs of what could happen if the internet goes down. Think back to Hurricane Sandy. It knocked out power to many homes in the east. Hackers were able to use the internet outage within days to steal credit card numbers.
Look around your house and you will see many devices connected via the internet. Amazon can be ordered from your fridge. Your car can view traffic conditions and make reservations. Even your lights can turn off remotely. Because they have microprocessors within them, all of these things can be communicated with each other via the internet.
These microprocessors were unable to transmit data over their networks when Hurricane Sandy struck the East Coast. This meant that cars could not start or stop engines, refrigerators couldn't order food and lights couldn’t turn off. It caused chaos and confusion in an emergency.
It could happen again during a national emergency such as a natural disaster, terrorist attack, or other similar situations. Imagine how difficult it would have been for police officers responding to medical emergencies or crimes. How would hospitals manage patient care without computers? What about communication with government agencies and citizens?
Good news is that infrastructure is in place to prevent such an event from ever happening. Critical services such as water treatment plants and power plants are already designed to withstand storms similar to hurricanes. However, they are not designed to withstand a massive cyberattack that could cause a loss of all electricity.
For example, if hackers managed to take over a nuclear plant, they could shut down the facility within seconds. They could also contaminate the water supply and cause mass panic.
Even though the infrastructure exists, the real question is whether we will ever take the time to build resilience into our system.
Two scientists from MIT wrote a paper titled "A Failure Model of Cloud Computing" in 2005. They proposed a future that has no single point or failure. Every device is vulnerable to multiple failure points. Instead of losing your phone's battery, you might lose your entire device. The phone and the computer both need to be taken apart.
We have relied on only a handful of key components in the past to keep us safe, such as telephone lines and electrical grids. Cloud-based computing is becoming increasingly popular. We're trusting technologies that have not been extensively tested under real-world conditions. This is why we must ensure that the technologies we use are resilient enough to withstand natural disasters, such as hurricanes or cyberattacks.
That's why I love the work of NIST (National Institute of Standards and Technology). NIST works with industry experts to create standards that will help us build resilience into our technology. These standards will ensure that everything functions seamlessly online. When the power goes out, our phones still work. Our refrigerators still order us dinner. Traffic reports tell us where the roads are.
By ensuring that our devices communicate with each other, we can be better prepared for any eventuality.
What is your greatest achievement in science and technology?
Since our discovery of how to harness flame for heat, we have come far. However, there are still many areas for improvement.
The greatest scientific achievements have been made when scientists have had an idea and worked towards turning it into reality. Science is often driven primarily by curiosity.
Sometimes, though, it takes more to break through than curiosity. Sometimes, you must have a goal. Vision. An ideal goal.
It is my belief that persistence and pursuing an idea are the best ways to achieve scientific breakthroughs.
They would look for ways to turn their ideas into reality, even if those realities weren't entirely clear at the time.
That means thinking big, taking chances, making mistakes, and learning from them.
It doesn't matter if you succeed or fail. This is the most important lesson. All that matters is your effort.
It is important to find a way that you can keep going, despite failures, criticism, rejection, or setbacks. If you persevere, you will eventually achieve success.
Don't worry about what the end result will look like. Be positive along the way.
What were some of the major inventions made in the early days of humanity's history?
Now think about the greatest invention in human history. Now, imagine an inventor creating a device that allows us to do exactly the same thing for even greater numbers of people.
What would it look to be like? What would it look like? Would it change the world forever? How would it be done if you had the chance to make such a device.
These questions will help you identify the place where innovation is possible.
Innovation is the ability solve problems in new and useful ways. Innovation is the key to solving any issue. Innovation means creating something new.
Now, let's consider the difference between invention and innovation. Invention refers to the creation of something new. Innovation is the process of improving on an existing thing. For example, the wheel was already invented before the invention of the bicycle.
Both innovation and invention require imagination. However, they also require different skills. Innovation is able to see things others can't. They are able to identify problems and think outside of the box to find solutions.
An investor can envision possibilities. An investor can see possibilities and take a concept from one idea into another. They are able understand and explain their ideas to others so they can be followed.
Innovation requires imagination. It requires being creative. You must be open to trying something new.
A good investor is willing to try new things. To think outside of their comfort zone. To push themselves to think outside their comfort zone and come up with innovative solutions.
A good inventor understands that the best solution isn't always the easiest. Sometimes, finding the right question is the hardest part.
An inventor doesn't just want to solve a problem. They want to improve something. They want to make it better.
When you are considering your next invention, there are two options.
- Either you can make something new.
- It is possible to improve on something already existing.
You must first identify the problem in order to make improvements. The next step is to determine if another person has solved the problem.
Sometimes, the problem you are trying to solve is no longer valid because it has changed over time. This is called obsolescence.
Another reason innovation failures are common is because the market is saturated. Too many products are available for consumers to purchase. Therefore, there is not enough demand for a particular product.
You should therefore focus your efforts on niche markets and industries. These are areas that offer growth potential.
But, don't forget that the market might not be ready yet for your product. You need to test the idea. It's worth testing. Let us know what you think.
Last but not least, consider whether or not your idea is worth considering. Are you truly innovating? Is it going to improve on something that works?
You have to move beyond your comfort zone in order to innovate. It is important to challenge yourself to think different. And it would be best if you were willing to learn more about the topic.
It is important to look for opportunities to try new things. You should also be willing to make mistakes.
Failing is the only way you can discover what is possible. Failure will teach success.
Statistics
- With the sequencing of both the human and chimpanzee genome, as of 2012, estimates of the similarity between their DNA sequences range between 95% and 99%. (en.wikipedia.org)
- dating of two H.nalediteeth, to 253+82−70 ka, for an estimated age of the fossils of 253+82−17 ka. (en.wikipedia.org)
- The linear view of human evolution began to be abandoned in the 1970s as different species of humans were discovered, which made the linear concept increasingly unlikely. (en.wikipedia.org)
- This migration out of Africa is estimated to have begun about 70–50,000 years BP, and modern humans subsequently spread globally, replacing earlier hominins either through competition or hybridization. (en.wikipedia.org)
- Retrieved April 26, 2015. Sequence differences from the human genome were confirmed to be ∼1% in areas that can be precisely aligned, representing ∼35 million single base-pair differences. (en.wikipedia.org)
External Links
en.wikipedia.org
nytimes.com
- Grappling with the Price of Saving Earth's Oxygen (Published 1990).
- For Evolving Brains: A 'Paleo" Diet of Carbs. The New York Times
web.archive.org
doi.org
- Evolutionary Biology: The Hybrid Origin of "Modern Humans".
- ScienceDirect: The Mosaic Humans, a hybrid species
How To
How toys have changed since World War II
World War II was one of the most devastating wars ever known. It lasted from 1939 until 1945, affecting many countries worldwide. Many factors contributed to the conflict, including territorial ambitions. Many factors contributed to the conflict. These include the rise to dictatorships. All of these factors contributed to a worldwide conflict that claimed millions of lives.
The effects of war were felt around the world. Many people lost their homes, families, belongings, lives, and even their lives. Millions of children were orphaned due to the death of their parents during the war, while others became homeless. Some countries suffered serious damage to their infrastructure. This caused a loss in productivity, economy, trade, and other consequences. Other countries faced social unrests, poverty, starvation and lack of education.
After the end of the war, countries started rebuilding their economies and infrastructure. They faced many challenges such as a shortage of raw materials, a weak labor force, and tight finances. They also had to deal with the aftermath of the war which took several decades to heal.
New technologies were developed as a result. The development of nuclear weapons, for example, made it possible to easily destroy cities. Radar systems were also created which enabled planes to fly higher, so that they could avoid enemy fire. Electronic devices, including television, radio, computers, have made news more accessible than ever before.
Toys were more affordable and easily available after the war. Children didn't need to work for money to buy toys. Parents no longer needed to worry about how their child would spend the allowance. Instead, toys came in large quantities at low prices. Because everyone wanted to be profitable, there was less competition among toy makers. As a result, toys of higher quality were more popular.
In conclusion, the Second World War impacted not only the people who suffered through it but also the way we live today. We have learned from our mistakes and are now adapting to them. Today, we live better than ever before.
