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Enslavement and Abolition

Driving Question: How did abolitionist movements reshape political and economic structures during the long nineteenth century?

Even as liberty became a global ideal, slavery remained a global reality. Resistance came from enslaved people, activists, and communities who refused to accept the system. Even with the abolition of slavery, the fight for equality was far from over.

Learning Objectives

  1. Analyze the factors that led to the abolition of slavery and its lasting impacts on modern society.
  2. Use the historical thinking practice of sourcing to evaluate theories about the abolition of slavery.
  3. Use a graphic biography to support, extend, or challenge the overarching narratives of this period.

Vocab Terms:

  • abolitionist
  • activism
  • capitalism
  • enslavement
  • plantation
  • racism
  • slave trade
STEP 1

Opener: Enslavement and Abolition

Teaching Tools

To teach this lesson step, refer to page 2 of the Lesson 4.4 Teaching Guide Locked .

In this lesson, you are going to learn about individuals and groups who made important choices that transformed the world for the better. This quick opener will help you think through what drives decision-making.

STEP 2

Why Was Slavery Abolished?

Teaching Tools

To teach this lesson step, refer to page 3 of the Lesson 4.4 Teaching Guide Locked .

Need a way to give students feedback on their sourcing skills? Check out this Sourcing Feedback Form.

These materials explore why slavery was abolished and highlight the role of abolitionist voices. You’ll use evidence to understand how abolition reshaped politics and the economy in the industrial age.

STEP 3

Impacts of Enslavement

Teaching Tools

To teach this lesson step, refer to page 9 of the Lesson 4.4 Teaching Guide Locked .

The Comparison One-Pager is a great reminder of why this skill is so important to understanding the past.

This article and video show how abolition changed societies—but also how racism and inequality continued in the political and economic systems.

Impact of the Slave Trade: Through a Ghanaian Lens External link

This video explores the impact of the Atlantic slave trade on Ghana, showing how a closer look at one region can reveal deeper truths about Africa’s past.

Key Ideas

As this video progresses, key ideas will be introduced to invoke discussion.
STEP 4

Closer: Enslavement and Abolition

Teaching Tools

To teach this lesson step, refer to page 11 of the Lesson 4.4 Teaching Guide Locked .

Closers like this are a great opportunity to informally assess student understanding. Read more in the OER Project Assessment Guide.

You’ve learned about the impacts of the slave trade and some of the people who helped end it. In this activity, you’ll choose the factors that you think were most important to the abolitionist movement.

Extension Materials
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Explore deeper connections between slavery and industrial capitalism through new perspectives on the economic forces that influenced abolition and its aftermath.
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Rival Economic Systems

Teaching Tools

To teach this lesson step, refer to page 11 of the Lesson 4.4 Teaching Guide Locked .

Slaving and slavery existed alongside capitalism. But were they rival economic systems, or did they support each other?