The hardships and upheavals of the African Americans were the basis of the creation of the blues. Since the beginning of the slave trade in America in 1619, blacks have been treated unjustly. Over two hundred years, more than five hundred thousand blacks were taken from Africa to the United States. Most blacks were forced to work as slaves in homes or on plantations. Not only were they forced to work extremely hard but they were also discriminated against and looked down upon because of the color of their skin. Following the early eighteenth century, a religious revival called the Great Awakening swept over the thirteen colonies. In America, Christianity became a major force. Over 200 years, many African Americans became Christians and learned popular hymns. Hymns are religious poems based on Psalms and set to music. African Americans added their own experiences and singing styles to those songs. The...