Slave Codes Teacher Resources

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...

Look critically at the slave laws instated in Colonial New York. Your class examines primary source documents, slave laws, a narrative account from a slave's perspective, and Slave Codes. They write diary or journal entries in response...

After viewing a short PowerPoint about Nat Turner's rebellion, class groups examine Alabama's 1833 slave codes. Individuals then develop a mini-legal brief arguing against one particular slave law.

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...

Students explore slavery by reviewing the written laws intended to keep African Americans subservient. In this U.S. slavery lesson, students analyze a time-line of the history of African Americans. Students discuss the patterns of the...

Seventh graders study water bodies that were escape routes to Canada for slaves seeking freedom. They examine and create a coded spiritual that describes a personal experience with secrecy and fear.

How far in the past do the roots of Jim Crow and segregation extend? Young historians closely consider this question using detailed PowerPoint slides as a basis for discussion rather than lecture, culminating in an activity where class...

Students determine the factors that were considered when purchasing slaves at market or through the purchase of an estate. They examine the Arkansas Slave Code and share its content through a group activity.

Fourth graders learn about a slavery rebellion.  In this slavery lesson, 4th graders work in groups to review different non-violent ways enslaved Africans protested slavery.  Students learn about the Stono Rebellion, read a...

During the era of Reconstruction, the planter class of the South tried to replicate the time before the Civil War by squashing rights given in the Thirteenth, Fourteenths and Fifteenth amendments. Using a video clip featuring renowned...

High schoolers explore the Africane, the first slave ship to bring slaves to the area, entered the port of Mobile in 1721. In 1724 the French Code Noir was extended into the Mobile area and provided the basic laws and conditions of...

Students read excepts from various government documents on the issue of slavery in America. Using the internet, they research a topic related to slavery of interest to them and present to the class their findings. They examine the life...

Seventh graders complete a unit of lessons on the reform movements of the mid-1800's in the U.S. They participate in an Internet scavenger hunt, analyze primary source documents, and develop and perform a simulation of a mid-19th century...

Sixth graders debate their reactions to two different historical documents about managing a society.  In this U.S. history lesson, 6th graders read two articles on codes and laws from different time periods and debate their...

In this slavery in America activity, students examine their knowledge through ten fill in the blank questions that relate to the aforementioned topic.

Students examine the labor needs in colonial America. Using primary and secondary resources, they explore the major events and life in the United States during colonial times. They complete a chart listing the pros and cons of a slave...

Students explore the concept of slavery and manumission through a variety of activities. For this civil rights lesson, students gather information from primary sources, then analyze the politics and historical context of the time....

Students review the causes of slavery, the Middle Passage, triangular trade and the spread of slavery throughout colonies. They work in small groups and search documents in order to find the answers to a question and document packet.

Learners read narratives of ex-slaves and then in groups write and act in their plays.

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.

This website describes contents of the Virginia Slave Codes of 1705 with excerpts from the orginal law.

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.

Kids learn about the history of slavery in the United States on this site. The site includes information about slave codes, abolitionism, free states, and slave states.

This site provides the original text of Virginia colonial laws concerning different aspects of slavery for Africans, Native Americans, and indentured servants.