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Digital
History>eXplorations>Servitude
and Slavery
Teacher
Resources
This page contains specific resources developed for teachers
using this Exploration.
Entire
Unit | Indentured
Servitude | Colonial Slavery | Fugitive Slaves
in Colonial Virginia
Focusing
Event for Entire Unit
 Use
the Venn Diagram (Microsoft Word
format) to find what students already know about indentured servitude
and slavery during colonial America.
This activity can either be done individually or in small groups.
It is probably best if students share these as a whole class and
contribute to a larger Venn diagram.
As
a whole class assignment, the diagram could be projected on a
SmartBoard and facts about slavery and servitude could be added
with colored markers.
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Exploration 1: Indentured Servitude and Slavery
Focusing
Event:
What
if there were no Indentured Servants or Slaves…How would
America be different? Brainstorm this idea with the class.
Getting
ready to read:
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Have
students access the word inventory
(Microsoft Word format).
Some of the reading is rather hard to understand. These
are just a few of the words that either needs to be discussed
or suggestions by the teacher can help students find definitions.
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As the students read from the two accounts, have them complete
the comparison jot chart.
(Microsoft Word format).
Extending
the Exploration
1.
View this timeline of antislavery in America
Ask
students to analyze the events and list what are the most pivotal
events in our history. Students can then write an exploration
paper describing what America would be like today if the event
never happened.
2.
Consider both perspectives and choose one.
Using
that perspective, write a letter to a friend in England describing
your living situation either as an indentured servant or slave
in the American colonies. Be sure to describe living conditions,
financial conditions, relationships with others, and any other
information that you think is important. You may use Elizabeth’s
letter, Hammond’s
essay, or any of the other activities we have already completed.
The letter should be no more than one page.
3.
Go to the website Slavery in America at
http://www.slaveryinamerica.org/resources/overview.htm
Now
click on the "Roads to Freedom" icon on the left
side of the page.
Along
the bottom are the 6 possible roads to freedom the slaves could
take. Look at all of them but especially find one that you want
to study further. Share the results with the class.
There
are lots of great lesson plans on this site – look especially
at the lesson plan for Self Purchase
http://www.slaveryinamerica.org/history/hs_lp_rtf-selfpurchase.htm
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Exploration 2: Colonial Slavery
Students
may select one of the accounts from this section and summarize
this person's experience in a paragraph or two. Include what
is
happening
to
the individual, what did they witness, etc.
List
several things you learned from the reading that you didn’t
already know.
Now
do a web search on Religion in Colonial America.
How
did the Puritans, Quakers, or even Calvinists reconcile their
religious beliefs with what went on with the slaves.
Did
early Colonial religion look like the religion we see practiced
today? Why or why not?
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Fugitive
Slaves in Colonial Virginia
Dr.
Mary Gray at the University of Houston has created a web
project about analyzing runaway slave ads.
View this project:
http://www.writinghistory.uh.edu/syllabi/project1_fugitiveslaveads_fall07.cfm
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