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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Slavery, Manumission, and Freedom: Free Blacks in Charleston before the Civil War

For Teachers 7th - 10th
Learners explore the concept of slavery and manumission through a variety of activities. In this civil rights lesson, students gather information from primary sources, then analyze the politics and historical context of the time....
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Handout
Auburn University

Auburn University: The Alabama Supreme Court on Slaves

For Students 9th - 10th
This historical summary covers information on slaves during the mid-19th century in the following areas: Who were Slaves?, Rights and Powers of Ownership, Transfers of Slaves, Hiring of Slaves, Fugitive Slaves, Regulation of Slaves,...
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Website
Other

Geni: American Abolitionist Movement

For Students 9th - 10th
Looks at the history of the abolitionist movement in the United States, the key people involved, and important events.
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Website
Independence Hall Association

U.s. History: Free (?) African Americans

For Students 5th - 8th
Not all African-Americans were slaves in the South. Some were freed by their owners, others escaped, but none had the same rights as free whites. Read about their restrictions that were put into law. Find out about the church...
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Handout
Black Past

Black Past: Whipple, Prince

For Students 9th - 10th
This encyclopedia article, although brief, gives good information about Prince Whipple, a slave who fought in the Revolutionary War.
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Website
Digital History

Digital History: Antislavery Timeline

For Students 9th - 10th
A timeline of actions tied to the prohibition of or ending of slavery from the meeting of the Continental Congress in 1774 to John Brown's raid on Harper's Ferry in 1859.
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Website
Digital History

Digital History: Antebellum Slavery

For Students 9th - 10th
The ideals of liberty after the Revolutionary War brought freedom to many slaves. Read about why the institution of slavery rebounded after the introduction of the cotton gin.
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Website
Independence Hall Association

U.s. History: Free African Americans in the Colonial Era

For Students 5th - 8th
Read about the ways some slaves gained their freedom and where they often lived once free.
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Handout
Black Past

Black Past: New York Slave Uprising (1712)

For Students 9th - 10th
This brief encyclopedia article tells about the slave revolt in New York in 1712 which led to severe punishment and stricter laws for slaves.
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Article
Siteseen

Siteseen: American Historama: Buying Freedom From Slavery

For Students 9th - 10th
Interesting discussion on the methods used by slaves to acquire the money to help them buy their freedom.