Teaching Enslavement in American History by Bohan, Chara Haeussler; Baker, H. Robert; King, LaGarrett J.;

Short description:

This book provides classroom teachers with the resources necessary to navigate one of the most difficult topics in any history course and pushes students to learn how to think: empirical argumentation, source evaluation, understanding of change-over-time, and analysis of historical context.

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Long description:

Teaching Enslavement in American History provides classroom teachers with the resources necessary to navigate one of the most difficult topics in any history course. This volume is the product of a collaboration between three university professors and a team of experienced middle and high school teachers. Its nine chapters include the context for topics like the middle passage, the Constitution's position on enslavement, African cultural retention, and resistance to enslavement. The resources include 18 lesson plans and dozens of short primary and secondary sources modeled on document-based questions and the inquiry design model.

Real teaching requires courage, a deep understanding of the complexity of the subject matter, and skillful use of primary sources. Rather than teaching students what to think, Teaching Enslavement in American History pushes students to learn how to think: empirical argumentation, source evaluation, understanding of change-over-time, and analysis of historical context. The lessons in this book ask students to read, analyze, and contextualize a variety of primary sources, to identify the limitations of these sources and to articulate historical contradiction where it occurs. At the heart of this book is the belief that historical consciousness leads to societal change. Teaching about enslavement is not merely about teaching a curriculum, it is about molding citizens who will lead our democracy in its journey to become a more perfect union.

"The institution of slavery is arguably one of the most important and misunderstood institutions that shaped the United States. Slavery had a profound impact on the nation's economics, politics, and culture. However, the scope, scale, and lasting impact of slavery is minimally taught in schools and generally misunderstood. Through Teaching Enslavement in American History: Lesson Plans and Primary Sources, H. Robert Baker, Chara Bohan, and LaGarrett King offer an invaluable resource for educators and other interested in effective instruction about slavery in the United States. Each chapter presents essential historical context, primary source materials, and engaging lesson plans aligned with a number of standards, including Advanced Placement United States History standards. This text provides a clear roadmap for educators to not only develop their own understanding of slavery but also clear, easy to follow lesson plans for students. Considering the challenges around race the nation faces today, this is an essential text and tool for learning."-Joseph E. Flynn, Jr., Associate Professor, Northern Illinois University; Author of White Fatigue: Rethinking Resistance for Social Justice

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Table of Contents:

List of Tables - List of Illustrations - Acknowledgements - Introduction - Slavery in Colonial America - The Middle Passage - African Cultural Retention - Slavery and the Constitution - Slavery in the Early Republic, 1790-1833 - Enslavement and Resistance - Abolitionism - Slavery and the Coming of the Civil War, 1833- 1860 - Civil War and Emancipation - Index.

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