US History through the African American Experience

Slavery and Abolition, 1750-1860

Why does the institution of slavery last as long as it does? 

Psychological? Legality? Economics? Violence?

 

“They think that we do not feel for our brethren, whom they are murdering by the inches, but they are dreadfully deceived.”  David Walker
“Remember that ours is not a war for robbery, nor to satisfy our passions; it is a struggle for freedom.”  Nat Turner

“Many of our fathers, and some of us, have fought and bled for the liberty, independence and peace which you now enjoy.”  James Forten

“The heart of the whites must be changed, thoroughly, entirely, permanently changed.”  James McCune Smith

“Could slavery exist long if it did not sit on a commercial throne?”  Francis Ellen Watkins

“If I could have convinced more slaves that they were slaves, I could have freed thousands more.”  Harriet Tubman

Why does the institution of slavery last as long as it does?  Today we see the system of slavery as being unfair and unjust, but for over 200 years, the institution endured in our nation.  In this unit, you will examine what kept the slave system in place for so long by looking at

• The legality of slavery (text, 189-96, abolitionist movement 201-8, Fugitive Slave Act, 216-220)
• The psychological effects of slavery
• The economics of slavery (text, 163-9, 169-176, Changing South 226-9)
• The violence of the slave system  (177-183)

You will read a number of primary sources and your textbook African American Lives:  The Struggle for Freedom, by Carson, et. al. to gather evidence to address this issue.  We will read about how individuals and groups both supported and fought against the slave system.

HOMEWORK

For your homework, make 4 notebook pages with the four categories:  legal, psychological, economic and violence.  As you read, take notes within those categories.  For each homework assignment, you must note 5 pieces of information each with a page number.

Thursday 10/6	Introduction to Slavery and Abolition	Read Venture Smith Section One on the blog. http://blog.whps.org/wilsonafricanamericanexperience/slavery-and-abolition-syllabus/about/Categorize 2 pieces of information under the 4 categories:  psychological, legal, violence, economics
FRI 10/7		Read Venture Smith Section Two on the blog. http://blog.whps.org/wilsonafricanamericanexperience/slavery-and-abolition-syllabus/about/Categorize 2 pieces of information under the 4 categories:  psychological, legal, violence, economics
TUES 10/11		Read Section three of Venture Smith.  Categorize 2 pieces of information under the 4 categories
WED10/12
Thurs 10/13		Find section in your text on your abolitionist.  Record info on your biography sheet noting the page you got the information was on.
Fri 10/14	Choose abolitionist to research; Library	Read text, “The expansion of slavery,” 163-9 on economics of slavery; Categorize 5 pieces of information under the 4 categories:  psychological, legal, violence, economics
Mon 10/17	LibraryFind a second source on your individual and fill out biography research chart for your individual, discovering what your person’s relationship was to the four aspects of slavery.	Read text, “Slave Life and Labor,” 169-176; Categorize 5 pieces of information under the 4 categories:  psychological, legal, violence, economics Find textbook section on your individual and fill out biography research card; Find a picture of your individual and print it
Tues 10/18		Find a primary source produced about your person.  Find one quote to put under your picture that defines what your person believes about slavery and abolition
Wed 10/19	Library	Write 2 paragraphs of your essay using two of the 4 categories:  psychology, legality, violence, and economics
Thurs 10/20		complete second two paragraphs of essay; attach both to your picture
Fri 10/21		Read text, “Resistance and Rebellion,” 177-183Categorize 5 pieces of information under the 4 categories:  psychological, legal, violence, economics
Mon 10/24		Hand in final draft
Tues 10/25		Read text, “Black Americans in an Expanding Nation,” 189-195Categorize 5 pieces of information under the 4 categories:  psychological, legal, violence, economics
Wed 10/26		Read text, “Abolitionist Movement,” 201-8Categorize 5 pieces of information under the 4 categories:  psychological, legal, violence, economics
Fri 10/27		Read text, “Fugitive Slave Act,” 216-220Categorize 5 pieces of information under the 4 categories:  psychological, legal, violence, economics
Mon 10/31		Read text, “Changing South” 226-9; Categorize 5 pieces of information under the 4 categories:  psychological, legal, violence, economics
Wed 11/9	Prepare for essay	Prepare for essay
Thurs 11/10	Write essay