The Exodus Narrative in Antebellum America was repeatedly used in early American history. Both slaves and slaveowners used the traditional biblical story of

the Exodus The Exodus (Hebrew language, Hebrew: יציאת מצרים, ''Yəṣīʾat Mīṣrayīm'': ) is the Origin myth#Founding myth, founding myth of the Israelites whose narrative is spread over four of the five books of the Torah, Pentateuch (specif ...

to not only form their respective identities but also to define their purpose in America. The motif of the Exodus was first used in American history in 1630 by John Winthrop, aboard the Arabella in his famous sermon " A Modell for Christian Charity". In this sermon Winthrop introduced the idea that the

Puritans The Puritans were English Protestants in the 16th and 17th centuries who sought to rid the Church of England of what they considered to be Roman Catholic practices, maintaining that the Church of England had not been fully reformed and should b ...

, had inherited the divine covenant first given to the Hebrews, making them New Israel. In this conception, the crossing of the Atlantic was equated to the Exodus. From this moment on, early Americans would adopt this narrative as their

founding myth An origin myth is a type of myth that explains the beginnings of a natural or social aspect of the world. Creation myths are a type of origin myth narrating the formation of the universe. However, numerous cultures have stories that take place a ...

. During the 19th century, slaveowners also used this narrative to explain their situation and give them a purpose. The slaveowners set themselves up as New Israel, the "Redeemer Nation". Albert J. Raboteau. ''A Fire in the Bones: Reflections on African-American Religious History'' (Boston: Beacon Press, 1995), 31. In this understanding, slaveowners were "to reach the pinnacle of perfection and to carry liberty and the gospel around the globe." As with slaveowners, slaves also used the Exodus narrative to frame their situation. Although in their version however, slaveowners were cast in the role of Pharaoh, instead of New Israel, and the slaves corresponded to the Israelites. The Exodus narrative not only became an instrument of hope for the enslaved, but also allowed them to make sense of their situation and provided a blueprint for their deliverance. This can be most best seen in their spirituals, such as " Go Down Moses" and " Deep River". By appropriating the narrative of Exodus the slaves did more than simply try to understand their situation and their past; they created for themselves a national identity and, equally importantly, a mythic past.Albert J. Raboteau. ''Slave Religion: The "Invisible Institution" in the Antebellum South'' (New York: Oxford University Press, 2004), 128.

References

{{Book of Exodus navbox * Pre-emancipation African-American history African-American cultural history 19th century in the United States Book of Exodus