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Forten's Birth
James Forten was born as a free black man in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania -
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James Forten's participation in the Revolutionary War
At age 14 Forten enlists in the U.S military in the Revolutionary war, he had an important mission sailing two voyages of privateers to obtain vital military recourses from British ships, he completed those tasks perfectly. -
Forten's Return to Philadelphia
James Forten returned to Philly and became an apprentice to a sailmaker Robert Bridges. -
Forten's Business success
Forten becomes the owner of Bridges' sailmaking business, making him the wealthiest free African American. -
Using the wealth for a good cause
Using the wealth gained from being the owner of Bridges' sailmaking business he supported abolitionist causes funding the Freedom's Journal. -
The advocation of free black settlers
James Forten helped organize Black Philadelphians against the American Colonization Society, advocating for the resettlement of free African Americans in Africa. -
A letter to Congress "A Man of Color"
James Forten wrote an anonymous letter to congress titled "A Man of Color", arguing on how Pennsylvania has been the home to black refugees. -
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James Forten assistance with funding African American anti-slavery movements
Forten helped fund The Liberator, an anti-slavery newspaper by William Lloyd Garrison. James had also assisted in founding and financially supporting the American Anti-Slavery Society. -
James Forten's unfortunate end
In the city he was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania at age 75 James Forten passed away.