Roy Rosenzweig Center for History and New Media
Slaves and Indentured Servants
In theory, at least, indentured servitude and slavery were two different practices in the American colonies. Class groups conduct a close reading of two primary source documents, one written by a slave and one by an indentured servant,...
Curated OER
Comparing SLaves and Servants in Colonial New York
Young historians compare and contrast differences in the laws that regulated the activities of slaves and servants. They review and analyze a series of primary source documents to explain the social constructs related to slaves and...
Curated OER
Runaway Indentured Servants
Learners compare and contrast indentured servants and slaves. In this US history slavery lesson, students discuss the owners' perceptions of indentured servants and slaves, then view ads for runaway slaves to support their opinions....
Curated OER
A Comparison of Indentured Servants and Slaves
Sixth graders examine and compare the lives of slaves and indentured servants using primary sources and the historical fiction books, "Molly Bannaky and Barefoot." They analyze and compare advertisements for runaway slaves. Students...
Curated OER
Early Colonial Labor Force: Indentured Servants and Slaves
Young scholars study the labor force used during Colonial America. For this Colonial America lesson, students discuss labor types used in the colonies. Young scholars read about indentured servants and the use of African slaves. Students...
Curated OER
Comparison of Owners' Perceptions of Runaway Indentured Servants and Slaves
Fifth graders compare and contrast servants and slaves in a journal entry. They examine ads which describe indentured servants accompanied by escaped slaves. They draw conclusions as to owners' perceptions and present their conclusions.
Curated OER
Daily Life in Virginia
Students explore colonization in North America. In this United States history lesson, students view a PowerPoint presentation about indentured servants and slave labor, then construct a related Venn diagram. Students answer questions...
Curated OER
What makes a Southern Colony a Southern Colony
Eighth graders answer questions put to them by the teacher that are intended to help them understand the different lives of slaves and indentured servants in colonial times. They make a list of Aristocrats and Farmers from their text...
Curated OER
What Would Hannah Think?
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...
Curated OER
Slavery in the United States
Students investigate the personal accounts of slaves in the United States. They participate in various activities according to grade level to examine the role of slavery in the South.
Center for History Education
The Tobacco Economy: How did the Geography of the Chesapeake Region Influence its Development?
Explore the relationship between geography and economy using primary sources. After examining wills, advertisements, and other primary sources, individuals consider how the Chesapeake Region came to be home first to indentured servants,...
Curated OER
Why Did Delawareans Use Slaves?
High schoolers read about an indentured servant, and complete a chart comparing slaves and indentured servants.
Curated OER
Life in the Colonies
What was life like for the early colonists? Read along with an informational presentation, rich in text. Colonial slavery, slave culuture, colonial religion, and the Great Awakening are all described in full. Tip: The resource could be...
Curated OER
How Africans Became Slaves for the Colonists
Students complete a t-chart identifying the advantages and disadvantages of having indentured servants. In groups, they research the use of serfs and slaves in various cultures and share their responses. To end the lesson, they...
Library of Virginia
Antebellum Freedom
From indentured servitude to involuntary race-based servitude, slavery has taken many forms in American history. Class members examine three manumission petitions that reveal how the rights of African Americans and African American...
Curated OER
Virginia History Mini Quiz: Tobacco and Slavery
In this history of Virginia instructional activity, learners complete a quiz over the tobacco and slave industry that existed in the Virginia colony. Their objective is to illustrate the facts they know about cash crops, tobacco...
Curated OER
Eighteenth-Century Slave Codes
Students explore slavery by reviewing the written laws intended to keep African Americans subservient. For this U.S. slavery lesson, students analyze a time-line of the history of African Americans. Students discuss the patterns of the...
Curated OER
From Slavery to Segregation
Students study the causes and effects of slavery and segregation. They write an essay (including either pictures, charts, graphs or copies of documents to support their essay) which addresses the African American's journey from slavery...
Curated OER
Fight for Freedom
Students research examples of slavery in the world today, and explore some ways they can help current slaves gain their freedom. After students develop a plan for helping to fight slavery, they take action.
Curated OER
The Terrible Transformation: Freedom Denied
Pupils learn about the legal foundations for slavery and explore autobiographical writings of slaves. Students trace the development of laws that enforced the slave status of Africans and their descendants.
Alabama Department of Archives and History
Alabama Slave Codes in 1833: What They Can Teach Us About Slaves Themselves
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.
Curated OER
Labor Needs in Colonial America
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...
Curated OER
Colonization
High schoolers explore why the Americas attracted Europeans, why they brought enslaved Africans to their colonies, and how Europeans struggled for control of North American and the Caribbean.
Curated OER
VS.3e
Third graders explore, examine and identify the importance of the arrival of Africans and women to the Jamestown settlement. They review the groups of people in Virginia during the early 1600s and explain how having a government brought...