This country, especially the Southern United States, was built using African slave labor. African slaves were not allowed to receive an education. Almost all African slaves could not read or write because it was against the law to educate slaves for over 200 years. The master/slave relationship made assimilation very difficult. Values ​​and beliefs were formed in those years and are still evident to this day (Parrillo, 2009). Thomas Jefferson owned slaves on his Monticello property. At that time, approximately 20% of the new United States were African slaves. Although he owned approximately 600 slaves, he was a steadfast opponent of slavery. Jefferson's slaves worked in the fields, in the home, and as skilled craftsmen. They worked 6 days a week with Sundays off and several public holidays. According to the Monticello Enslaved Families page, there were at least 6 families who had at least three generations of enslaved families in Monticello. These families were the Hemings, Gillettes, Herns, Fossetts, Grangers, and Hubbards. These families all possessed different skills such as head cook, blacksmith, and other skills needed to make Monticello a successful Virginia plantation (Enslaved Families of Monticello, n.d.). In 1857, Dred Scott v. Sanford was the first pro-slavery trial. United States Supreme Court. Scott claimed to have lived as a slave in a free state and territory. The High Court's decision was that he was a slave and that the law ensuring that slavery would not be permitted in the new U.S. territories was unconstitutional. The court's decision helped accelerate the civil war. Because of the Supreme Court's decision, the Northerners who... center of paper... are the most noteworthy event in U.S. history (New World, 2009). ReferencesCozzens, L., (1999) Welcome to African American History! Retrieved March 16, 2012, from http://www.watson.org/~lisa/blackhistory/index.htmlEnslaved Families of Monticello (n.d.) Slavery at Jefferson's Monticello: paradox of liberty, Retrieved March 16, 2012, from the Smithsonian National Museum of History and African American culture http://www.slaveryatmonticello.org/slavery-at-monticello/enslaved-families-monticelloNew World Encyclopedia (2009) African-American Civil Rights Movement (1955-1968), retrieved March 16, 2012 from http ://www.newworldencyclopedia.org/entry/African-American_Civil_ Rights_Movement_%281955-1968%29#CreditsParrillo, V., (2009) Strangers from These Shores: Race and Ethnic Relations in the United States, (9th ed.), Boston , M.A., Allyn, and Bacon