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Study Guide: The Patty Cannon and Cannon-Johnson Gang: Criminality and Slavery in the Early 19th Century

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The Patty Cannon and Cannon-Johnson Gang: Criminality and Slavery in the Early 19th Century Study Guide

Patty Cannon and Key Figures

Patty Cannon was born around 1790 and died in 1815.

Answer: False

Explanation: Sources indicate Patty Cannon was born around 1759 or 1760 (or possibly 1769) and died in 1829, making her significantly older than the dates provided.

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Joe Johnson, Patty Cannon's partner, was her son-in-law and operated a tavern that served as a holding place for captives.

Answer: True

Explanation: Joe Johnson, identified as Patty Cannon's son-in-law and partner, operated a tavern that functioned as a holding location for kidnapped individuals prior to their forced transport and sale into slavery.

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Joe Johnson was known for treating captives kindly and releasing those who proved they were free.

Answer: False

Explanation: Joe Johnson treated captives harshly, keeping them in leg irons and whipping those who claimed freedom, indicating a lack of kindness or leniency.

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Patty Cannon's daughter was complicit in the gang's crimes and expressed pleasure when captives were mistreated.

Answer: True

Explanation: Patty Cannon's daughter, married to Joe Johnson, was complicit in the gang's activities and was overheard expressing satisfaction during the mistreatment of captives.

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Patty Cannon confessed to committing approximately 24 murders before her death.

Answer: True

Explanation: Before her death, Patty Cannon reportedly confessed to nearly two dozen murders of black kidnap victims.

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Patty Cannon's daughter was married to Joe Johnson, who was her second husband and a key partner in the gang.

Answer: True

Explanation: Patty Cannon's daughter married Joe Johnson, who served as her second husband and was a principal partner in the Cannon-Johnson Gang's criminal activities.

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Patty Cannon was born into a wealthy family and used her inheritance to fund the Cannon-Johnson Gang's operations.

Answer: False

Explanation: Sources do not indicate that Patty Cannon was born into wealth or used an inheritance to fund operations; her criminal activities were the source of her resources.

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Who was Patty Cannon and what was her primary role in the criminal underworld?

Answer: An illegal slave trader and serial killer, co-leader of the Cannon–Johnson Gang.

Explanation: Patty Cannon was an American illegal slave trader and serial killer, and the co-leader of the multi-racial Cannon–Johnson Gang, which engaged in kidnapping and forced sale into slavery.

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What were Patty Cannon's approximate birth and death years according to the source?

Answer: Born 1760, Died 1829

Explanation: Sources indicate Patty Cannon was born around 1759 or 1760 (or possibly 1769) and died on May 11, 1829.

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Which of the following was NOT an alias associated with Patty Cannon?

Answer: Patricia Johnson

Explanation: Aliases associated with Patty Cannon include Lucretia P. Cannon, Martha Cannon, and Lucretia Hanly. Patricia Johnson is not listed as one of her known aliases.

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Who was Joe Johnson's relationship to Patty Cannon and his role in the gang?

Answer: Patty Cannon's son-in-law (daughter's second husband) and partner who ran a tavern holding place.

Explanation: Joe Johnson was Patty Cannon's son-in-law, married to her daughter, and served as her partner in the gang, operating a tavern that functioned as a holding place for captives.

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What action did Joe Johnson take against captives who claimed they were free?

Answer: He put them in leg irons and whipped them severely.

Explanation: Joe Johnson responded to captives claiming freedom by placing them in leg irons and administering severe whippings, a tactic designed to suppress their claims and enforce compliance.

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How many murders did Patty Cannon confess to before her death?

Answer: Nearly two dozen murders.

Explanation: Prior to her death, Patty Cannon reportedly confessed to nearly two dozen murders of individuals who were victims of her kidnapping and slave trading operations.

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The Cannon-Johnson Gang: Operations and Methods

Patty Cannon, also known by aliases such as Lucretia P. Cannon, was primarily involved in the legal trade of indentured servants during the early 19th century.

Answer: False

Explanation: The source material identifies Patty Cannon as an illegal slave trader and serial killer, co-leader of the Cannon-Johnson Gang, not involved in the legal trade of indentured servants.

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The Cannon–Johnson Gang operated exclusively within the state of Maryland.

Answer: False

Explanation: The gang's operations spanned multiple states, including Maryland, Delaware, and extending to southern states for slave markets, as indicated by their geographical scope and transport methods.

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The Cannon–Johnson Gang primarily targeted fugitive slaves escaping to the North.

Answer: False

Explanation: The gang's primary targets were both free black individuals and fugitive slaves, whom they abducted and sold into slavery.

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Philadelphia was a vulnerable target for the gang due to its well-established professional police force that actively patrolled black neighborhoods.

Answer: False

Explanation: Philadelphia was vulnerable because it lacked a professional police force and had a large free black population, making its residents susceptible to kidnapping.

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Kidnapped captives were typically held in Cannon's house before being transported south, often chained and hidden.

Answer: True

Explanation: Sources confirm that kidnapped captives were often held in Cannon's house, chained and hidden, before being transported south via various means, including Cannon's Ferry.

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The gang used decoys like Henry Carr and John Purnell to lure potential victims by offering them legitimate work opportunities.

Answer: True

Explanation: The gang employed decoys, such as Henry Carr and John Purnell, who would entice victims, particularly young men, with promises of legitimate work opportunities, only to betray and capture them.

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Local white communities generally took active measures to protect free blacks from kidnapping by the Cannon-Johnson Gang.

Answer: False

Explanation: Sources suggest that local white communities were often indifferent or unconcerned about the kidnapping of free blacks, and generally did not take active measures to protect them.

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What illicit practice was the main operation of the Cannon–Johnson Gang?

Answer: Kidnapping free black people and fugitive slaves to sell them into slavery.

Explanation: The primary operation of the Cannon-Johnson Gang was the abduction of free black individuals and fugitive slaves, whom they then sold into slavery in southern states.

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The Cannon–Johnson Gang's operations primarily spanned which geographical region?

Answer: The Delmarva Peninsula and surrounding states.

Explanation: The gang primarily operated along the Delmarva Peninsula, encompassing parts of Maryland and Delaware, with their activities extending across state lines and reaching southern slave markets.

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Why was Philadelphia particularly susceptible to the gang's kidnapping activities?

Answer: It lacked a professional police force and had a large free black population.

Explanation: Philadelphia's vulnerability stemmed from its substantial free black population and the absence of a professional police force, which facilitated the gang's kidnapping operations.

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How did the gang typically lure their victims, especially young men?

Answer: By promising jobs aboard their boats as decoy laborers.

Explanation: The gang frequently lured victims, particularly young men, by offering employment as decoy laborers on their boats, thereby drawing them into their trap.

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What was the typical journey for individuals kidnapped by the Cannon–Johnson Gang?

Answer: Chained and hidden, then transported by wagon and schooner to southern slave markets.

Explanation: Kidnapped individuals were typically held captive, chained and hidden, then transported by wagon to locations like Cannon's Ferry and subsequently by schooner to southern slave markets.

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What is the significance of Joe Johnson's tavern in the context of the gang's operations?

Answer: It served as a holding location for kidnapped captives before transport.

Explanation: Joe Johnson's tavern played a crucial role as a holding location for kidnapped captives before they were transported south for sale into slavery.

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What does the source suggest about the reluctance of local white communities to act against the gang?

Answer: They generally ignored the issue or were unconcerned.

Explanation: The source indicates that local white communities often displayed indifference or a lack of concern regarding the kidnapping of free blacks, and generally did not intervene to protect them.

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Which of the following best describes the Cannon–Johnson Gang?

Answer: A multi-racial criminal organization involved in kidnapping and slave trading.

Explanation: The Cannon-Johnson Gang was a multi-racial criminal organization whose primary activities included kidnapping, illegal slave trading, and murder.

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What does the term 'Cannon's Ferry' refer to in the context of the gang's operations?

Answer: A location used by the gang to transport kidnapped victims via wagon and schooner.

Explanation: Cannon's Ferry (now Woodland Ferry) was a site utilized by the gang for transporting kidnapped victims, often by wagon to the ferry and then by schooner downriver.

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Historical and Economic Context

The U.S. Congress banned the importation of slaves in 1807, which decreased the demand for enslaved labor and reduced the gang's incentive.

Answer: False

Explanation: While Congress banned slave importation in 1807, this, combined with the expansion of cotton cultivation, increased the demand for enslaved labor and made the domestic slave trade more lucrative, thus increasing the gang's incentive.

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The invention of the cotton gin decreased the profitability of slavery, leading the gang to seek alternative criminal enterprises.

Answer: False

Explanation: The invention of the cotton gin significantly increased the profitability of slavery by making cotton cultivation highly profitable, thereby increasing the demand for enslaved labor and the gang's incentive.

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What historical event significantly increased the demand for enslaved labor and thus the gang's incentive, following the 1807 ban on slave importation?

Answer: The invention of the cotton gin and expansion of cotton cultivation.

Explanation: The invention of the cotton gin made cotton farming highly profitable, leading to a significant expansion of cotton cultivation and a corresponding increase in the demand for enslaved labor, thereby enhancing the gang's financial incentives.

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What was the primary reason the domestic slave trade became more lucrative around the time of the Cannon-Johnson Gang's activities?

Answer: The invention of the cotton gin made cotton farming highly profitable, increasing demand for labor.

Explanation: The profitability of the domestic slave trade surged due to the invention of the cotton gin, which made cotton farming highly profitable and thus increased the demand for enslaved labor.

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The 'Reverse Underground Railroad' and its Victims

The 'Reverse Underground Railroad' was a network designed to assist enslaved people in escaping to freedom in the North.

Answer: False

Explanation: The 'Reverse Underground Railroad' was a criminal enterprise that kidnapped free black people and fugitive slaves to sell them into slavery, operating in opposition to the Underground Railroad.

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The 'Reverse Underground Railroad' is best described as:

Answer: A criminal network that kidnapped and sold people into slavery.

Explanation: The 'Reverse Underground Railroad' refers to a criminal network that abducted free black individuals and fugitive slaves, transporting them to be sold into slavery, thus operating in direct opposition to the Underground Railroad.

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Legacy and Historical Representation

Cyrus James, a former captive, testified that he saw Patty Cannon personally drown a captured child.

Answer: False

Explanation: Cyrus James testified that he saw Patty Cannon carry an injured child away in her apron, after which the child never returned, but the testimony does not state he witnessed her drown the child.

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Patty Cannon's skull was displayed publicly for many years, including a loan to the Smithsonian Institution in 2010 for research.

Answer: True

Explanation: Patty Cannon's skull was exhumed, displayed publicly, and loaned to the Smithsonian Institution in 2010 for scientific research.

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The novel *The Entailed Hat* suggests that the War of 1812 might have contributed to local indifference towards prosecuting Cannon's crimes against black individuals.

Answer: True

Explanation: The novel *The Entailed Hat* posits that the War of 1812 may have fostered local indifference to prosecuting crimes against black individuals, potentially due to the British offering freedom to slaves who joined them.

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The name 'Lucretia P. Cannon' was a name Patty Cannon used frequently during her lifetime to gain credibility.

Answer: False

Explanation: There is no evidence that Patty Cannon used the name 'Lucretia P. Cannon' during her lifetime; this name became prominent in later popular accounts, possibly to associate her with Lucretia Borgia.

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The historical marker in Reliance, Maryland, is located at the site of Patty Cannon's original 18th-century house.

Answer: False

Explanation: The historical marker is near the site of the 'Patty Cannon House,' but the structure itself was built around 1840, not in the 18th century. Her actual 18th-century residence was demolished.

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Patty Cannon's actual residence, known as the 'Patty Cannon House', was built in the 18th century and still stands today in Reliance, Maryland.

Answer: False

Explanation: The actual 18th-century residence of Patty Cannon was torn down in 1948. The structure referred to as the 'Patty Cannon House' near the historical marker was built around 1840.

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What is the significance of the 1841 pamphlet *Narrative and Confessions of Lucretia P. Cannon*?

Answer: It popularized her story, introduced the name 'Lucretia P. Cannon', and associated her with Lucretia Borgia.

Explanation: The 1841 pamphlet significantly popularized Patty Cannon's story, introduced the alias 'Lucretia P. Cannon,' and drew parallels between her and the notorious poisoner Lucretia Borgia.

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What happened to Patty Cannon's skull after her burial?

Answer: It was exhumed, displayed publicly, and loaned to the Smithsonian.

Explanation: After her burial, Patty Cannon's skull was exhumed, subsequently displayed publicly, and even loaned to the Smithsonian Institution for research purposes.

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According to Cyrus James' testimony, what did he witness Patty Cannon do with an injured child?

Answer: He saw her carry the child away in her apron, after which it never returned.

Explanation: Cyrus James testified that he observed Patty Cannon carrying an injured child away in her apron, and that the child was never seen again.

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The illustration depicting Cannon holding a child near a fireplace, found in the 1841 book, serves to:

Answer: Illustrate her alleged cruelty and violence towards victims.

Explanation: The illustration in the 1841 pamphlet visually represents alleged acts of cruelty by Patty Cannon, depicting her pushing a child towards a fireplace, symbolizing the violence associated with her crimes.

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