OBJECTIVE DO FIRST You will be able to explain causes and effects of slave resistance and rebellion Life as a student is limiting—not only do you have to follow the rules of your parents, you have a million rules to follow at school. What are some examples of ways that you or your classmates “rebel” or go against those rules?
What does “rebellion” look like? Causes of Rebellion Acts of Rebellion Effects of Rebellion
Slave Resistance and Rebellion Today’s notes will be on the different ways slaves rebelled and revolted against their slave masters. Focus on what CAUSED these acts of rebellion and the EFFECTS of the rebellion were!
Acts of Rebellion On a daily basis, slaves would find ways to quietly rebel against their slave masters in small ways. For example, they would break fences and tools on the plantation and worked sloppily to damage the crops. Slaves who worked inside the house would sneak food out of the kitchen.
Acts of Rebellion Slaves would oftentimes pretend to be dumb, clumsy, sick, or insane to escape doing work. One slave avoided doing work for many years because he pretended to be blind! Slaves were not always quiet with their rebellion. Some house slaves would slip poison into their masters’ food. Others would set fire to the masters’ houses and barns.
Acts of Rebellion When being punished, slaves would sometimes fight back with violence. Frederick Douglass, an abolitionist and former slave, fought back against his master when he was beaten—eventually, the master stopped beating Douglass.
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Fugitive Slaves Slaves also resisted their slave masters by running away to freedom in the North. This was a huge risk for slaves—many did not know what the world was like outside of the plantation. Slaveholders also hired professional slave catchers and hunting dogs to find fugitive (runaway) slaves. If caught, slaves risked being attacked by the dogs, brutal whipping, or even death.
Fugitive Slaves Despite the risk, many slaves found ways to escape. Some walked, hiding by day and traveling at night, following the North Star to freedom. Others traveled by boat or train, using fake identity cards to get past the slave patrols. Some slaves even mailed themselves to freedom in boxes or coffins!
Fugitive Slaves Many fugitive slaves relied on the help of people like Harriet Tubman, a former slave who had escaped to freedom, who helped other slaves escape along the Underground Railroad. The Underground Railroad was a network of secret routes and safe houses that helped slaves escape to their freedom.
Video Clip! America Story of Us: division 28:30-31:50
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The Nat Turner Rebellion Slave-masters feared nothing more than a violent slave revolt. Slave revolts occurred in cities, on plantations, and even at sea. Many slave owners would sleep with pistols (guns) at their side for fear of revolt.
The Nat Turner Rebellion The most famous slave revolt happened in 1831, when a slave named Nat Turner led a bloody uprising in Virginia. Armed with axes and guns, Turner and his followers set out to kill every white person they could find. After two days, over 50 people had been chopped to death. After a six-week manhunt, Turner was captured and hanged for leading the revolt.
The Nat Turner Rebellion This rebellion caused white southerners to panic. In response, southern states passed strict slave codes (laws) that increased control over slaves and punished slaves more severely for rebelling.
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The Nat Turner Rebellion! http://www.history.com/videos/nat-turners-rebellion#nat- turners-rebellion
Cause and Effect Diagram Work with your tables to create a cause and effect diagram that illustrates reasons WHY slaves rebelled, WHAT that rebellion looked like, and the EFFECTS of those acts of rebellion.