American Slave Life mini-unit, including text

The study of America, from its founding through the Civil War, necessitates a close examination of the enslaved peoples whose labor built this nation and the "peculiar institution" which required a horrific war to bring to an end. In this mini-unit, students will examine what life was like for those who suffered through slavery and fought on a daily basis to maintain their dignity and humanity against an economic and social system designed to subjugate and humiliate. In the end, it is a story of the power of the human spirit to rise above oppression and prejudice.

Students will read an informative and interesting chapter from my textbook “We Take Nothing by Conquest”, answer an inquiry based study guide to focus their attention on the main points and supporting details, examine primary source documents (first person accounts of former slaves, arguments made by slave owners to justify the “peculiar institution,” and a speech made by the famous abolitionist), and produce a poster or PowerPoint presentation showing what they have learned.

Materials include:
* 9 pages of informative and interesting text (adapted from the chapters One Nation, Two Worlds and Life in the North and South from my textbook “We Take Nothing by Conquest”);
* an inquiry based study guide for the text to focus students on the main points and supporting details;
* a 40 slide PowerPoint with answers to the study guide for review, including pictures to stimulate discussion and enhance understanding;
* an 18 page Teacher’s Guide which provides day-by-day and step-by-step instructions how to use all of the materials;
* a primary source activity which includes excerpts from the narratives of three former slaves: Mary Reynolds, William Wells Brown, and Frederick Douglass; excerpts of pro-slavery arguments made by slave-owners; and excerpts from a speech by William Lloyd Garrison; along with a worksheet for each excerpt with guiding questions directing students to analyze the respective narratives and arguments;
* instructions for a group project where students conduct research and create a poster or PowerPoint presentation detailing slave life, along with samples of student work;
* a 10 multiple choice question unit quiz to assess student learning.

Answer keys for the study guide and unit quiz are included in the Teacher’s Guide. Materials are provided as word documents and PDFs in one zip file. 

Created by Cliff Baker - Ye Olde History Emporium