1. Warm Up
Project this image and ask students to discuss the following (this can be done verbally, in writing, or a combination of both):
-What do you see here?
-What do you think the shading represents?
-What is the story behind this drawing? (Imagine what happened right before
this, what is happening now, what do you predict is going to happen?)
-What do you think the artist was trying to convey in this drawing?
-What do you already know about slavery? (record brainstormed responses on
the board)

2. The Transatlantic Slave Trade
Essential Questions:
Why is it important to study the history of slavery?
Why have humans throughout history enslaved one another?
*This Power Point should be used as a catalyst for class discussion, and not lecture. However, as you facilitate discussion, you may wish to instruct students to take notes in Cornell Note format, or another preferred way.
Introduce the topic to students, explaining that today will be spent discussion the history of the African slave trade, culminating with a focus on the individual humans that experienced slavery.
Discuss with students:
-Why is it important to study the history of slavery? Why should those of us living today, who never personally experienced or contributed to this cruel institution, care about what happened during times of slavery?
-When do you think slavery began, and where did it begin?
-How did slavery develop? Why have humans throughout history enslaved one another?
(The teacher may wish to point out that while this discussion will focus on African slavery, every race/culture of people have been enslaved at some point throughout the history of the world.)
III. Click to the next slide and explain the beginning of slavery in Africa.
*When discussing, allow students to express opinions and state their understanding of facts, but the teacher should make sure to respectfully dispel any incorrect information that is brought up.

3. Trans-Saharan Slave Trade
■Other captives were shipped north across the deserts of northwest Africa to the Mediterranean coast (to Morocco).
■Africans were purchased there to work as servants in Spain, Portugal, and other countries.
By the mid-1400’s, Portuguese ship captains were trading slaves along the west coast of Africa for working on sugar plantations.
What do you think “Trans-Saharan” refers to?
Between the 10th – 14th century, African captives were sold in Islamic markets around the area of present day Sudan.
Many of these slaves were female, sold for servants or concubines.

4. Transatlantic Slave Trade
In 1492, Columbus landed in the “New World,” linking Europe & The Americas
Spanish adventurers arrived in the following years, enslaving Native Americans to search for gold and silver.
The Natives were weakened by disease, malnutrition, & Spanish cruelty so the Spanish decided to use Africans.
Around 1520, the first African slaves arrived in the Americas off of Portuguese ships.

5. How do you think each continent was affected by this trade?
What impact did slavery have on colonial economics?
Ask students:
-Based on this map, what do you think the Triangle Trade Route was?
-How do you think each continent was effected by this trade?
-We know that enslaved Africans were brought to the colonies once they began to form along the East Coast of North America. Infer how you think these enslaved humans effected the colonies.
-What impact did slavery have on colonial economics?

6. The Middle Passage
Middle Passage = ship crossing for African slaves to the New World
What do you think life would have been like on a slave ship?
Ask students:
-What does “Middle Passage” refer to? What do you already know about the Middle Passage?
(Ensure students have a proper understanding of what the term refers to, such as “the trip enslaved Africans were forced to take across the Atlantic Ocean; the trip would take months, and much of this time was spent chained in the bowels of a slave ship)
-What do you see in this picture, and how does it illustrate the Middle Passage?

7. Estimates claim 2-4 million slaves died on the Middle Passage
Several hundred slaves were packed below deck on stacked wooden platforms.
These platforms were covered with excrement, blood, and filth and caused many infections and diseases.
Slaves were confined by leg irons while on the ship and were often tortured with whip beatings.
Many slaves committed suicide by jumping overboard or refusing to eat.
As the journey typically took several months…15-20% of the slaves died on the ship
Estimates claim 2-4 million slaves died on the Middle Passage

8. Slavery in the Southern Colonies
Those surviving The Middle Passage were auctioned off…
In the 18th century, the “ideal” slave (male, strong, young, & healthy) was worth how much in today’s money?
$11,630-$23,200
40% of slaves before the American Revolution passed through South Carolina and were often put to work in its rice fields…

9. Slavery in the Southern Colonies
There was no harder or more unhealthy work than the rice fields…
“Ankle deep or mid-leg in water which floats an oozy mud, and exposed to a burning sun which makes the air hotter than human blood; those poor wretches are in a furnace of stinking putrid vapor”
2 out of 3 African-American children on rice plantations failed to reach their 16th birthday (malaria, harsh working conditions)

10. Copper Sun
About a 15 year old African girl, Amari, and her experiences with the slave trade
Historical Fiction: Work of fiction, but events of the story are based on fact
Author spent 10 years researching its content
Written by Sharon Draper, 2006
Grand-daughter of a slave
Setting: 1738 (slave trade in full swing); African village, then South Carolina

11. Tomorrow Speeches Begin
Be Prepared, even if you “know” other people will volunteer.
Have two typed, printed copies of the outline along with your rubric from the packet.