Quotes From the Founders on Slavery

Dr. Samuel Johnson: "“How is it that we hear the loudest yelps for liberty from the drivers of Negroes?”

Letters of Thomas Jefferson

The Founding Fathers on Slavery

Should Washington and Jefferson's Status Come Down?

Read the above articles and answer the following questions

1. Why was it, in your opinion, that so many of our founding fathers - "the ones who yelped loudest for liberty - were also slave owners?


2. In Jefferson's letters, what kind of attitude does he hold toward blacks and the institution of slavery? Are these views compatible?


3. Based on these quotes, how do you square the fact that the founding fathers owned slaves with the words they spoke about the institution?

4. Do you believe that the founders should be honored for championing liberty based on what the BBC article points out?

5. Overall, what is your impression of our founding fathers and their relationship to slavery? What do you notice in all of your reading? Explain.

Slavery During the Revolution Due Wednesday

Answer the following questions and finish the video above.

1. Why did George Washington change his mind and allow black soldiers to fight for the patriots?
   
   
2. Why did many colonists want blacks to be allowed to fight?
   
   
3. Why was seeing black soldiers fighting for the patriots disconcerting for many colonists?
   
   
4. If they were a slave during the Revolution, for which side would they have fought?
5. What happened to Titus during the Revolution?
   
   
6. Was Colonel Tye a "good guy" or a "bad guy?"
   
   
7. Do they sympathize with Colonel Tye?
   
   
8. Do they think the system of slavery was wrong? Explain
   
   
9. Do they think that Colonel Tye was justified in returning to his home to free his family and friends?
   
   
10. Do they think it was acceptable for Titus to fight for the British? Why?

Why Did America Adopt Race Based Slavery?

Why America Adopted Race Based Slavery

Read this paper - a series of excerpts from a book titled Strange New Land: Africans in Colonial America - and be prepared for a quiz tomorrow.

Is Race Real?

What is race? Is it a thing? Watch these two videos and answer the following questions.

1. Is race real?

2. Which argument makes the most sense?

3. Why is it that race is such a complicated topic to discuss?

4. What are the dangers of each approach.

Historical Guilt

Native Americans and Historical Guilt

Many of you have already seen this video, as I use it frequently to illustrate the concept of historical guilt.  However, I think it is a great jumping off place for a discussion.

Watch the above documentary, and answer the following questions.

1. Where is the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation Located?
2. What are conditions on the Reservation like? Provide some examples.
3. What are the causes of the problems on the reservation?
4. What should be done? What, if any, responsibility to we as modern Americans bear, for the situation on Pine Ridge, and other Reservations like them.  Explain