Up From Slavery by Brooker T. Washington

The Color Purple

Why Purple?

REUNITED

Civil Rights

History of Slavery in the United States

James Hopkinsons Plantation 
Slaves Planting Sweet Potatoes 
by Henry P. Moore

When did slavery begin in the Americas? 

The first slaves in the American colonies arrived on a Dutch ship in Jamestown, Virginia in 1619. Over the next 200 years, around 600,000 more slaves were brought to the American colonies, most of them to work the tobacco and cotton fields. 

Where did the slaves come from? 

Slaves were brought over from the continent of Africa. Most of them came from the west coast of Africa where the main ports for the slave trade existed. The conditions on the slave ships were terrible. Often slaves were "packed" tightly in the ship's hold where they were chained up and unable to move. Many slaves died during the trip due to disease and starvation. 

Slave States and Free States 

The United States became divided between slave states in the south and free states to the north. When new states were added, one of the major issues was whether the new state would legalize slavery or not. When Missouri wanted to become a state, many people were upset because it was a slave state. In order to even things out, Congress admitted Maine at the same time as a free state. This was part of the Missouri Compromise of 1820. 

Underground Railroad 

Slaves escaped from the South to the North by using the Underground Railroad. The Underground Railroad was a network of homes, people, and hideouts that helped slaves to make their way in secret to the North. Around 100,000 slaves were able to escape this way between 1810 and 1865. 

Civil War 

When Abraham Lincoln was elected president, the southern states were afraid that he would outlaw slavery. They seceded from the United States and made their own country called the Confederacy. This started the Civil War. Eventually the North won the war and the southern states rejoined the Union. 


The 13th Amendment 

In 1865, the 13th Amendment outlawing slavery was added to the U.S. Constitution. 

Interesting Facts about Slavery in the United States

• According the U.S. Constitution, slaves were counted as three-fifths of a person when the state's population was counted to determine how many Congressmen represented the state.
• Some slaves were treated well by their owners, whiles others were treated horribly. They were sometimes beaten, whipped, branded, burned, and imprisoned.
• Children of slaves were owned by the slave owner. They were often sold to other owners and the parents had no say.
• There were free black people who lived in the South before the Civil War. Some of them even owned slaves.

Slave Trade

A Wedding

Roots Clip "They can put the chains on your body, never let them put the chains on your mind."


Days After Freedom

Booker T. Washington and  

Up From Slavery Text

10 Suprising Facts about Booker T. Washington

Does Slavery Exist Today?

Tuskegee University

Bridging Texts Question: What similarities can you find between African American struggle for freedom and the Jewish struggle for freedom? What differences exist? Why is this question important to ask? 

Clip on Israelites, Slavery and a Shared Narrative