Slavery, Fugitive Slave Law, the Underground Railroad and
the Black Laws of Illinois.  

Go here to learn about these topics, and do four learning activities

Content of this activity is derived from the Lincoln Home National Memorial Web site by the National Park Service

    "Abraham Lincoln is often referred to as "The Great Emancipator" and yet, he did not publicly call for emancipation throughout his entire life. Lincoln began his public career by claiming that he was "antislavery" -- against slavery's expansion but not calling for immediate emancipation.  He was not an active "Abolitionist."
However, the man who began as "antislavery" eventually issued the Emancipation Proclamation, which freed all slaves in those states that were in rebellion. He vigorously supported the 13th Amendment which abolished slavery throughout the United States, and, in the last speech of his life, he recommended extending the vote to African Americans."  Visit the Henry Ford video covering America's history of liberty:  http://www.hfmgv.org/museum/liberty/about/tour.asp

Using actual words (spoken and written) of Abraham Lincoln, we can find out how he stood as President on the issue of slavery.  A Civil War was ongoing because of this issue.

These words of Lincoln are listed on the Lincoln Home National Memorial Web site . 

This activity will use these quotes as our main resource
 

Your Job . . .
In the selected readings above from Abraham Lincoln throughout his career, you can see a change in his attitude and feelings about slavery/equality/individual rights.  It is hard to understand how the 1850's political leader, even Abraham Lincoln, could think the way they did.  America was in a totally different value system in the mid 19th Century.  Slavery was a very important economic issue in the South, especially after development of the Cotton Gin.  The slave was basically treated as an investment, tool, and work-horse as such.  The Southern politicians were staunch about protecting the right of owning slaves.

Take on the role of a U.S. President, a Southern plantation owner/farmer with slaves, a northerner, a poor white farmer in the north and border states, and make decisions where you stand on the subject of SLAVERY or ABOLITIONIST.  Also, you will have to decide on the issue of expansion of slavery into the new Territories, later to be states.

It is difficult now to understand why slavery was ever allowed in the United States.  Why did it grow and become so important in the South?  Why did some Northerners fear the ending of slavery in the South?  What did President Lincoln do about slavery?  

   
Check the new PBS Slavery & the Making of America for timelines, and lots of information

Listen to and read about actual slave stories at PBS Slave Memories.  Use the PBS Slavery Historical Timeline to answer these CHALLENGE questions:  Go here for the Timeline.

1. 1626-- What happened at Jamestown (New Netherlands)?

2. 1641-- What law was passed concerning run-away slaves?

3.  1663-- What did a group of slaves do?

4. 1682-- What declaration did Virginia set-forth concerning black servants?

5. 1708-- What had happened to South Carolina's population numbers?

6. 1696-- What happened to the slave business in New England?

7. 1733-- what did the Quaker, Elihu Coleman publish?

8. 1770-- Crispus Attucks, died for what reason?

9. 1773-- Slaves started this, as a first for them. What was it?

10. 1784-- Thomas Jefferson tried to get a proposal through concerning slavery, but failed.  What was the proposal?

11. 1788-- The U.S. Constitution considers slavery and the 3/5th's clause.  What is the 3/5th's clause?

12.  1819-- What happened to the slave trading industry?

13. 1831-- A runaway slave safety program gets it's name.  What is this program?

14. 1842-- An old 1792 slave law was brought up in (Prigg v. Pennsylvania), and became the law of the land.  What was that law?

15. 1848-- A new Anti-slavery group organizes a political party. What was the name of the party, and what was their major platform (thing they wanted stopped)?

16. 1857-- Slavery proponents gain much in a Supreme Court Decision.  What was the case, and what did it say about slavery in the territories?

17. 1860-- How many slaves were there in the U.S.?   A new President is elected.  Who was he?

18. 1861-- What war starts, and where?

19. 1862-- Blacks were now allowed to obtain "free land" from what Act?

20. The first Black (Colored) unit was organized to fight in the Civil War.  What was the name of this famous unit?

21. 1865-- A constitutional amendment is passed to abolish slavery.  What number is the amendment.

22.  Slavery ended in 1865.