Slavery in America-Part III (Resistance & Freedom)

Slaves did manage to find ways to enrich their lives and keep connected to each other. One way was through music. Slaves often sang when they worked, or at church, which the white owners encouraged. These songs, called “spirituals,” became a vital part of American life. Music such as jazz and blues has its roots in slave spirituals. Some slaves managed to publish “slave narratives,” stories that taught people what the experience of a slave was like.  

Many slaves fought back or ran away to the Northern states where slavery was legal. Both black and white people opposed to slavery formed the “Underground Railroad,” which were secret routes of safe houses – particularly in Ohio -- that sheltered slaves and helped them reach the North. Some slave escaped to the Deep South into Florida and made lives for themselves in places like Pensacola, "The Negro Fort," and Fort Moses as well as living among the Seminole Indians of Florida.  You can see read more and see pictures from Miss Avery's and Mrs. Kopecki's NEH Landmarks in American History Grant here.

Here's a video Mrs. Kopecki and Ms. Avery made on "Fort Negro."

By the 1800’s, many white Americans viewed slavery as wrong. “Abolitionists” were people who worked to ban slavery. However, people in the South depended on slave workers. They knew that if they lost slave labor, they would lose most of their wealth.

Disagreement on the issue became heated. In 1861, the Civil War broke out. The North won, and slavery was made illegal in 1865. This was done in two steps – first President Abraham Lincoln created a statement freeing slaves called the “Emancipation Proclamation.” After that, the U.S. Constitution was changed. The 13th Amendment declared that from that time on, slavery would always be illegal in the United States. (Source: www.misterteacher.com)

                                                The Project Lucid students read fugitive slave stories from the book entitled, Escape From Slavery by Doreen Rappaport.  The students completed graphic organizers showing the sequence of events to the various stories and illustrated their favorite scene.  

They shared these responses through Videoconferencing.  Below are some of their illustrations and graphic organizers.

Danielle & Nate-"Free Like The Wind'

Josh & Devin-"Two Tickets For Mr. Johnson and Slave"

Brian and Mike-"Pretending"

Mallory-"A Shipment of Dry Goods"

Gage-"The River of Ice"

Task Essential Questions: a. What is freedom?  b. At what cost should freedom be achieved?