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Lesson

Methods of Slave Resistance DBQ

Duration
80 min
Grade
9–12
Published
Nov 15, 2020
A historical illustration depicting a group of enslaved individuals in a field, with labor tools and children present.
Use this Lesson to have students examine how enslaved men and women resisted slavery during the late 1700s and early 1800s.

Objectives:

  • Examine the various ways enslaved men and women resisted the conditions of slavery by analyzing primary source excerpts dating from c. 1780 to 1850.
  • Systematically analyze primary sources by answering comprehension questions for each document.
  • Write a thesis statement that responds to a document-based question prompt.

Materials

Lesson Components

ActivityMethods of Slave Resistance Primary Source Packet

Six primary source examples that help students consider the ways in which men and women fought back against the system of slavery.

Lesson plan

80 minClick a phase to open it

More Information

Students should have prior knowledge of how to approach primary sources, and the sensitivity and respect required to talk about the topic of slavery. The conditions of slavery described in some of these documents are painful and upsetting. Reflective questions are suggested for discussion after students have finished working through the documents to address the sensitivity of the topic.

Standards

Advanced Placement

  • Topic 3.12 · Movement in the Early Republic
  • Topic 4.12 · African Americans in the Early Republic
  • Theme · Social Structures
  • Learning Objective · Unit 3O
  • Learning Objective · Unit 4L
  • Historical Development · 3.2.III.C
  • Historical Development · 4.1.II.D
  • Historical Development · 4.1.III.B.i
  • Reasoning Skill · Sourcing and Situation
  • Reasoning Skill · Source Claims and Evidence
  • Reasoning Skill · Making Connections
  • Reasoning Skill · Argumentation
  • Reasoning Process · Comparison
  • Reasoning Process · Continuity and Change

Check whether this resource aligns with your state’s standards →

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