Essay Question: Taking into account the political, economic and social dynamics used for the justification of slavery in the American South, construct a plan to be implemented in America for the following resolution: Resolved, that the United States federal government should establish a policy eliminating slavery in the United States.The plan must follow the procedure for creating debate affirmative plans and must avert a major military conflict.
Project Based Lesson: Slavery Play - Students will use the following online lesson plan to design and act a play examining the realities of slave life, the economics of the plantation system, the desires for freedom, the struggle of revolt and the prejudices of personal beliefs, religion and politics.Students will divide their work between writing and acting the play.
Readings/Internet: Uncle Toms Cabin, by Harriet Beecher Stowe, Beloved by Toni Morrison, Accounts of Nat Turners Rebellion, A Southern Religious Justification of Slavery
Links Lesson: 1) Compare and Contrast chart of slavery in the United States and serfdom in the Russian Empire, 2) Concept Web of slave life on the plantations, 3) Timeline of events affecting slaves throughout American history
Essential Questions: 1) How is it possible to learn of evil in history without forgiving its effects on the innocent? 2) Profit came from slavery.In what way do we limit gain through ethics today? 3) Is there a difference between wage slavery in factories and plantation slavery in the South? 4) Is violence justified in ending oppression?Should there be limits on methods or goals? 5) Why do some individuals sacrifice everything to help strangers?Where does that originate?
Identification Terms
Middle Passage
Slave Block
Slave Codes
Nat Turner
Denmark Vesey
1808 Slave Trade Ban
3/5 Compromise
Slave States
Free States
Field Slave
House Slave
Haitian Independence
Abolitionism
Amistad Case
Atlantic Slave Trade
Cotton Gin
Slavery & Christianity
Harriet Tubman
Cotton is King
Fredrick Douglass
Underground Railroad
Slavery & Expansion
Spirituals
North Star
Mass. 54th Infantry
Sojourner Truth
John Brown
Uncle Toms Cabin
Dred Scott
William Lloyd Garrison
Short Answer Questions
1. Was slavery profitable? Describe the economic system of slavery from Africa and the plantations of the South to justify your answer.
2. From actual slave narratives, describe the daily life of a slave with particular detail to both the struggle & hope of slaves.
3. Describe the accomplishments (political, economic and cultural) of the civilizations of West Africa and their legacy on African slaves.
4. How did the African-American church shape or influence the development of black culture in the American South?
5. Were slave revolts effective? Use examples from Nat Turners, Denmark Veseys and Gabriel Prossers slave uprisings in your answer.
6. Describe the differences in psychology and identity between field slaves and house slaves using evidence to support your answer.
7. Explain how Southern Christians who supported slavery provided a religious justification for their oppression of African slaves.
8. Describe how the roles of abolitionists influenced the slave system prior to the Civil War.Use 5 individuals to highlight your answer.
9. Was the Underground Railroad effective? Explain how Southerners reacted and whether their response deterred ideas of escape.
10. Could a compromise of slave expansion into the territories have worked or was this the decisive catalyst for the Civil War. Explain.