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Christiana History
A major episode in African-American history, along with John Brown’s raid,
was the Fugitive Slave Rebellion in Christiana. This event was a harbinger of
the Civil War. Frederick Douglass referred to the Christiana Riot as “… the
battle for liberty.”
On September 11, 1851, a Maryland slaveowner named Edward
Gorsuch made his way before dawn to the village of Christiana along with a U.S.
Marshall and deputies with the expectation of capturing his runaway slaves. A
violent and brutal conflict broke out that sent shock waves across the nation.
An historical resource page about the Underground Railroad in Lancaster
County including curriculum information is available at the
Lancaster County Historical Society. A resource page specific to information
on the Christiana Resistance is
here.
William Parker wrote about his experience in the February, 1866 issue of the
Atlantic Monthly. You can read his entire account here:
THE FREEDMAN'S STORY
The library has reproductions of this Atlantic Monthly publication
available for sale.
You can learn more about our local history at the Christiana Historical
Society’s webpage.
Books About the Riot
The following books are in our collection:
Forbes, David R. A True Story of the Christiana Riot, Quarryville Sun,
1898 (generously donated by Mr. Jerry Bower, Quarryville, PA)
Forbes, Ella But We Have No Country: The 1851 Christiana, Pennsylvania
Resistance, Africana Homestead Legacy, 1998
Slaughter, Thomas P. Bloody Dawn: The Christiana Riot and Racial Violence in
the Antebellum North, Oxford University Press, 1991
Rosenburg, John M. William Parker: Rebel Without Rights, Millbrook Press,
1996
Hensel, William Uhler The Christiana Riot and the Treason Trials of 1851: An
Historical Sketch, New Era Printing, 1911
Jackson, Arthur W. History of the Trial of Castner Hanway and Others for
Treason at Philadelphia in November, 1851, Uriah Hunt & Sons, 1852
(copy)
Bacon, Margaret Hope Rebellion at Christiana, Crown Publishers 1975
Katz, Jonathan Resistance at Christiana, Crowell, 1974
Still, William The Underground Railroad: A Record of Facts, Authentic
Narratives, Letters, etc., Arno Press 1968 reprint of Porter & Coates
1872
McClure, Alexander K. Recollections of Half a Century, The Salem Press Co.
1902
Related books available for sale at the Library:
Kendall, Harry W. Truth Crushed to Earth, Morris Publishing, 1999
Rettew, LaVerne D. A Charge of Treason or A Fight For Freedom, locally
published, 2000
Related books available at Amazon.com:
Slaughter, Thomas P. Bloody Dawn: The Christiana Riot and Racial Violence in
the Antebellum North
Rosenburg, John M. William Parker: Rebel Without
Rights, Millbrook Press,
1996
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