Curated OER
Colonial New York Slave Codes: Law and Order
Build a historical perspective from four different points of view. Young historians take on the role of a slave-owning white person, non-slave owning white person, slave, or free African-American person and imagine what life would be...
Curated OER
Using Primary Sources in the Classroom: Slavery Unit Lesson 1: Slave Code of 1833
High schoolers explore the concept of slavery. In this primary research lesson, students read the Alabama Slave Code of 1833 and discuss its implications. High schoolers also examine emancipation-related documents and respond to...
Other
Virtual Jamestown: The Practice of Slavery: Selected Virginia Records
This site provides the original text from colonial Virginia concerning council and court records on slave issues such as the laws concerning runaways, their punishments, deeds of ownership for specific slaves, etc.
Other
Virtual Jamestown: Laws on Slavery
This site provides the original text of Virginia colonial laws concerning different aspects of slavery for Africans, Native Americans, and indentured servants.
![Digital History: Methods of Controlling Slaves [Pdf] Website](https://d15y2dacu3jp90.cloudfront.net/images/attachment_defaults/resource/large/FPO-knovation.png "Digital History: Methods of Controlling Slaves [Pdf] Website")
Digital History
Digital History: Methods of Controlling Slaves [Pdf]
Slave masters felt that controlling slaves was a necessity. Read about three ways slaves were controlled in the slavery system, and read an account by Frederick Douglass about how his master, in particular, kept his slaves in line. [pdf]
PBS
Pbs: Cet: Africans in America: The Stono Rebellion
The Stono Rebellion and its impact is described in this informative essay. Hyperlinks to more discussion of this event. Teacher's Guide offers teacher resources.
PBS
Pbs: Africans in America: David Walker (1796 1830)
At this site from PBS you can read about the life of David Walker. Born in the late 18th century as a free black, he was most known for his pamplet, entitled "Appeal," which advocated slave revolt.
Independence Hall Association
U.s. History: Border Ruffians
Because of the terms of the Kansas-Nebraska Act, a election would be held to determine whether Kansas would be a slave or free state. Read about the fraudulent votes cast by the so-called border ruffians from Missouri, and see how Kansas...
Independence Hall Association
U.s. History: Rebellions on and Off the Plantation
Slaves resisted their bondage in many ways. Read about the revolts planned and executed by Denmark Vesey and Nat Turner, the southern reactions to those revolts, and the ways slaves individually resisted their enslavement.
Independence Hall Association
U.s. History: Slave Life and Slave Codes
A description of what life was like for slaves on plantations in the South. See the difference in treatment betwee field slaves and domestic slaves. and find examples of laws enacted under slave codes in several states.
Library of Congress
Loc: America's Story: Stono's Rebellion
A brief retelling of the colonial slave uprising, known as Stono's, or the Stono, Rebellion.
Library of Congress
Loc: America's Story: Stono's Rebellion
A brief retelling of the colonial slave uprising, known as Stono's, or the Stono, Rebellion.
Digital History
Digital History: Slavery Takes Root in Colonial Virginia
Read about how the decrease in the availability of indentured servants led to a vast increase in the importation of African slaves into the southern colonies. Bacon's Rebellion even had an effect on the replacement of indentured servants...
PBS
Africans in America: Virginia Recognizes Slavery
Here is a general description of the gradual change from using indentured servants to recognizing Africans as slaves and the laws reflecting this change.
PBS
Africans in America: New York: The Revolt of 1712
Description of revolt in New York City which led to stricter laws for the slaves.
PBS
Africans in America: Runaways 1740 1783
This website gives a rough idea of how many slaves were present in the South and what happened to many who ran away.
Kentucky Educational Television
Ket: Kentucky's Underground Railroad: Passage to Freedom
Kentucky Educational Television presents this PBS Award Winning special about the Underground Railroad in Kentucky. Video clips, songs, and excellent research make this site comprehensible and very useful to ELL students and any student...
Independence Hall Association
U.s. History: African Americans in the British New World: Slave Codes
Resistance and even rebellion of slaves resulted in colonies enacting laws regarding the actions of slaves. Read about some of the slave codes and what they prohibited.