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On the Plantation: Life as Slave

To start, listen to the story of the runaway slave, then click around the scene to learn more about life on a Southern plantation, read “Growing Up in Slavery” to meet Fannie Moore and after you’ve explored these resources ,answer these questions.

1. What did it mean to be a slave? What were some of the basic rights that slaves did not have?  not having free time from working or eating enough food.

2. Why did people own slaves in the United States in the 1800s?  to take over and have great power

3. When did slavery begin in the United States? Where did the first slaves come from? 1860, the south

4. Describe the life of a slave on a Southern plantation. Where did slaves live? What kinds of work did they do? How were they punished?   poor defenseless and starved.

in cabins. more work and nothing to eat or drink.

5. What do you think were some of the hardest things about being a slave?  having free time.

Escape! The Underground Railroad 

Listen to the story of the runaway slave, then click around the scene to learn more about how slaves made their escapes and found their way. After you’ve explored these resources, answer these questions.

1. Why did some enslaved African Americans try to escape from their owners? Why was this such a dangerous act?  to become free and never wanted to end up being a slave.

2. How did most slaves travel when they escaped? How did they find their way?  sneaking out to a river

3. What were some of the worst dangers and challenges that runaway slaves faced? being and hungry to death, also hiding from the dogs

4. How did runaways try to avoid getting caught? What happened if they were caught?  moss growing on trees.  they would've got killed.

5. What was the Underground Railroad? Who were the “passengers” and the “conductors”?  slaves trying to get free and how bad they been treated

6. Why did the Underground Railroad have to be so secretive? What are some ways that people on the Underground Railroad kept their work – and runaway slaves – hidden?  to protect their slave patrol

Reaching Safety: Heroes for the Cause

To start, listen to the story of the runaway slave, then click around the scene to learn how some abolitionists helped fugitives reach freedom. Try the “Harriet Tubman Web Quest,” to learn about the life of this brave woman who risked her life to guide hundreds of enslaved African Americans to freedom.

1. Were runaway slaves free once they reached the Northern states? Explain your answer.  yes because fugitives offer to help

2. Who were the abolitionists? How did they spread their message?  they organize meetings and gave speeches to slaves

3. What are some ways that abolitionists helped runaways on the Underground Railroad? not all of them worked on the underground railroad

4. Did all abolitionists support the Underground Railroad? Why or why not?  No because they wanted slaves to be free

5. Why was it so dangerous for people to help runaway slaves?  they could pay the price also

6. Who was Harriet Tubman? How do you think she and the Northern abolitionists helped each other’s cause?  an african american abolitionists, humanitarian, and Union spy the american civil war.

Almost Free: Life in the North

Have you explored all the resources in “Almost Free: Life in the North”? To start, listen to the

story of the runaway slave, then click around the scene to discover what life was like for fugitives in the North.  See “Compare Two Worlds: The North vs. South,” for interactive maps that identify important differences between the North and South before the Civil War. After you’ve explored these resources, answer these questions.

1. What are some of the different places that slaves settled in the North? Why did many runaways go to Canada?  Cleveland, Canada

2. What were some of the challenges the newcomers faced as they started their new lives?  fitting in with new people and making a new life

3. What were three major differences between the North and the South before the Civil War?  they were battling each other over territory

4. What was the Emancipation Proclamation? What impact did it have? consists of two executive orders issued by Abraham Lincoln

5. Why did so many African Americans fight in the Civil War on the side of the Union? beacuse they were the ones being slaves on wanted payback

6. What was one important outcome of the Civil War? blacks can now be able to get along with whites