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Chronological Reasoning and Causation

Civic Literacy Essay: Slavery

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  1. Load An Act for the Gradual Abolition of Slavery, 1799 in Main Document Viewer
  2. Load An Act for the Gradual Abolition of Slavery, 1799 in Main Document Viewer
  3. Load An Act for the Gradual Abolition of Slavery, 1799 in Main Document Viewer
  4. Load An Act for the Gradual Abolition of Slavery, 1799 in Main Document Viewer
  5. Load Speech of John Addison in the Committee of the whole House, against the bill for gradual abolition of slavery in Main Document Viewer
  6. Load Speech of John Addison in the Committee of the whole House, against the bill for gradual abolition of slavery in Main Document Viewer
  7. Load Speech of John Addison in the Committee of the whole House, against the bill for gradual abolition of slavery in Main Document Viewer
  8. Load Speech of John Addison in the Committee of the whole House, against the bill for gradual abolition of slavery in Main Document Viewer
  9. Load Speech of John Addison in the Committee of the whole House, against the bill for gradual abolition of slavery in Main Document Viewer
  10. Load Speech of John Addison in the Committee of the whole House, against the bill for gradual abolition of slavery in Main Document Viewer
  11. Load Speech of John Addison in the Committee of the whole House, against the bill for gradual abolition of slavery in Main Document Viewer
  12. Load Speech of John Addison in the Committee of the whole House, against the bill for gradual abolition of slavery in Main Document Viewer
  13. Load Speech of John Addison in the Committee of the whole House, against the bill for gradual abolition of slavery in Main Document Viewer
  14. Load Speech of John Addison in the Committee of the whole House, against the bill for gradual abolition of slavery in Main Document Viewer
  15. Load New Paltz Register of Slaves (1799-1825) in Main Document Viewer
  16. Load Advertisement Placed in the New York Gazette by Luis Gomez, 1736 in Main Document Viewer
  17. Load List of expenses, children of enslaved women abandoned to the Overseers of the Poor of Marbletown in Main Document Viewer
  18. Load List of expenses, children of enslaved women abandoned to the Overseers of the Poor of Marbletown in Main Document Viewer
  19. Load New York Journal Report, Enslaved Man Found Dead in Main Document Viewer

Suggested Teaching Instructions

USING LOCAL PRIMARY SOURCES TO PRACTICE FOR THE CIVIC LITERACY ESSAY
Create by Albert Cook, High School Teacher from New Paltz, NY
This Civic Literacy Essay Question is based on the accompanying documents. The question is designed to test your ability to work with historical documents. Some of these documents have been edited for the purpose of this question. As you analyze the documents, take into account the source of each document and any point of view that may be presented in the document. Keep in mind that the language and images used in a document may reflect the historical context of the time in which it was created.

Historical Context:
Throughout United States history, many constitutional and civic issues have been debated by Americans. These debates have resulted in efforts by individuals, groups, and governments to address these issues. These efforts have achieved varying degrees of success. One of these constitutional and civic issues is Slavery.

Task:
Read and analyze the documents. Using information from the documents and your knowledge of United States history, answer the questions that follow each document in Part A. Your answers to the questions will help you write the Part B essay in which you will be asked to:

• Describe the historical circumstances surrounding this constitutional or civic issue       

• Explain efforts by individuals, groups, and/or governments to address this constitutional or civic issue

• Discuss the extent to which the efforts were successful

In developing your answers, be sure to keep these general definitions in mind:

(a) describe means “to illustrate something in words or tell about it”

(b) explain means “to make plain or understandable; to give reasons for or causes of; to show the logical development or relationships of”

(c) discuss means “to make observations about something using facts, reasoning, and argument; to present in some detail”

​​​​​​Learning Standards:
11.3 EXPANSION, NATIONALISM, AND SECTIONALISM (1800 – 1865): As the nation expanded, growing sectional tensions, especially over slavery, resulted in political and constitutional crises that culminated in the Civil War.
(Standards: 1, 3, 4, 5; Themes: TCC, GEO, GOV, ECO, TECH)
11.3b Different perspectives concerning constitutional, political, economic, and social issues contributed to the growth of sectionalism.

Download a pdf of this lesson here.
 https://considerthesource.s3.amazonaws.com/8016/9982/9407/CivicLiteracy_Slavery.pdf

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