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.

Concepts

slavery, slave revolts, slave resistance, slave culture, fugitive slaves

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Additional Tags

social studies

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Instructional Ideas

• Invite an attorney to address the class and provide insight into and examples of legal briefs

Classroom Considerations

• While the focus of this lesson is on a cultural perspective of Alabama's 1833 slave codes, the concepts can be applied to all the states with slave codes
• The lesson presumes the class has not yet studied the Nat Turner Rebellion

Pros

• The 11-page packet includes background information about the slave codes, step-by-step directions for the lesson, links to required materials, extension activities, and a reworded version of the Alabama slave codes

Cons

• Some class members will need additional scaffolding to successfully draft the legal brief

Common Core

RI.9-10.1 RI.11-12.1 W.9-10.1.a W.11-12.1.a