Description of lesson/activity
1. understand the context of slavery in the United States.
2. explain how the institution of slavery dehumanized people.
3. gather and interpret information from personal accounts of slavery.
4. write a report on the evils of slavery.
1. In Unit V students investigated the "ambiguous democracy" in America. To many Americans living in the nineteenth century, the institution of slavery was inconsistent with the principles of democracy upon which the nation was founded. As an introduction to the Civil War it is important that students have an understanding of slavery as it existed in the United States.
2. To begin this lesson the teacher should ask students what they know about slavery. For instance, students should know where slaves came from (Unit II) and how slavery was addressed in the Constitution (Unit IV) . The goal of Question/Problem 1 is for students to examine what life was like for individual slaves and to write about the dehumanizing qualities of slavery.
3. Set up learning centers around the room. Divide the class into small groups. A learning center includes one of the accompanying "Personal Accounts of Slavery" readings at a desk and enough chairs for students in the group to sit. The teacher could use all or some of the readings provided. The teacher may provide additional readings such as slave codes from the 1800s.
4. The teacher should assign students the task of finding out what life was like for slaves in the United States prior to the Civil War. At each station students should take notes. The focus of the notes should be on how people were dehumanized by the institution of slavery by using examples from the readings. At each learning center the group can discuss what is most significant in the reading.
5. When students are finished gathering information, the teacher should give the following assignment:
You are a Northern newspaper reporter in 1850. The editor of your paper wants you to report on the evils of slavery. Use the evidence you found from the readings to complete your report.
6. Assessment is up to the teacher.
Chapman, Abraham ed. Steal Away: Stories of the Runaway Slaves. New York: Praeger, 1971.
Hurmence, Belinda ed. Before Freedom: 48 Oral Histories of Former North and South Carolina Slaves. New York: Mentor, 1990.
Knight, Michael. In Chains to Louisiana: Solomon Northup's Story. New York: E.P. Dutton & Co., Inc., 1971.
Lester, Julius. To be A Slave. New York: The Dial Press, 1968.
Liston, Robert. Slavery in America: The History of Slavery. New York: McGraw-Hill, 1970.
Smith, Elbert B. The Death of Slavery: The United States, 1837-65. Chicago: The University of Chicago Press, 1967.
Resource 1: Personal Accounts of Slavery: Slave Auction
Resource 2: Personal Accounts of Slavery: Slave Auction
Resource 3: Personal Accounts of Slavery: Breakup of Families
Resource 4: Personal Accounts of Slavery: Slave Trade
Resource 5: Personal Accounts of Slavery: Living Conditions
Resource 6: Personal Accounts of Slavery: Living Conditions
Resource 7: Personal Accounts of Slavery: Slave Labor
Resource 8: Personal Accounts of Slavery: Punishment
Resource 9: Personal Accounts of Slavery: Punishment
Resource 10: Personal Accounts of Slavery: Education
Resource 11: Personal Accounts of Slavery: Runaway Slaves