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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? To be a slave  it means you have to do whatever the person you work for wants you to do.If they want something to drink you would have to go get it for them. So you have to do everything for them because they do nothing for themselves.

2. Why did people own slaves in the United States in the 1800s ?  Because they were lazy and didn't want to do anything for themselves wanted everybody else to do it for them

3. When did slavery begin in the United States? Where did the first slaves come from?  Slavery Begin In the 1500's  and the first slaves came from India.

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? The life was hard because they have to everything for everyone..They lived in cabins, they had to bring people whatever they want when ever they wanted it. If they didn't they would get punished and that could have been many different things like more work, no freedom or get beat.

5. What do you think were some of the hardest things about being a slave? I think the hardest thing was not having no freedom in life,you have to be tied down to a person and be there slave its wrong and not fair so I think the hardest thing is not having no freedom.

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? They got tired of being slaves and being treated that way so they wanted to get away but this is dangerous because if they get caught they will most likely kill them.          

2. How did most slaves travel when they escaped? How did they find their way? They went north and they went that way because they wanted to go to Canada where they can live free and the only thing they  knew about it was it was north so he went for the north star and started running.

3. What were some of the worst dangers and challenges that runaway slaves faced? They have to be on there own and they don't know where there going because they never been places before because they was always with there owner.

4. How did runaways try to avoid getting caught? What happened if they were caught? They ran threw streams to try and hide they scents until the dogs left or till they passed him up so they don't bark and he gets caught.

5. What was the Underground Railroad? Who were the “passengers” and the “conductors”? The underground railroad is a place where you can run or ride and not get caught the passengers were the slaves who was running for freedom.

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? If everybody knew about it there would be no way the slaves can escape. They keep by their job because all the slaves try to run from home.

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. No because even though its a free state people can get in troble for helping them and will turn them in

2. Who were the abolitionists? How did they spread their message? People that work to end slavery,They gave speech's,wrote in the news papers and made pamphlets aganist slavery.

3. What are some ways that abolitionists helped runaways on the Underground Railroad? They helped them by making it easier for them to escape and by not letting them know that they were leaving doing it secretly.

4. Did all abolitionists support the Underground Railroad? Why or why not? No because some of them were scared they were going to get caught and the deal with the conqueces which was  were either 1000 fee or 6 months in jail and some people didn't want to take that risk.

5 Why was it so dangerous for people to help runaway slaves? If they got caught helping them they would be punished. That could be killed or be hurt

6. Who was Harriet Tubman? How do you think she and the Northern abolitionists helped each other’s cause? She was a slave at one time but she escaped the  with underground railroad , she came back to the to help free other slaves and get them free. They worked togother because they were both trying to do the same thing free slaves.

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? They stayed in barns, fields anywhere they could stay without people seeing them, because they were free there.

2. What were some of the challenges the newcomers faced as they started their new lives? They had to fit in and become like the normal people so people didn't know there were run away slaves.

3. What were three major differences between the North and the South before the Civil War? Slavery was different, people helped more free slaves after and they rated on the slaves more after.

4. What was the Emancipation Proclamation? What impact did it have? To stop salver if they helped and won maybe slavery would stop.

5. Why did so many African Americans fight in the Civil War on the side of the Union?To free them and make a difference in the world.

6. What was one important outcome of the Civil War? It ended slavery and made the life better.