No Rest for the Weary: The Modern Anti-Slavery Movement in the United States

Social Studies Review, Spring 2005 by Betts, Brenda, Russ, Pamela

Sixth through Eighth Grades

1. Research the history and geography of the Underground Railroad. Investigate the remains of stations, where slaves hid throughout the south. Assign small groups to study sections of the Underground Railroad to become knowledgeable about the plight of slaves and the historical significance of the Underground Railroad.

2. Identify racial, ethnic, and religious groups that were represented in the historical anti-slavery movement. Discuss the contributions of each group.

3. Compare and contrast the historical enslavement of African-Americans in the United States to the Modern Day Slave Trade.

4. List the Pro's and Con's of slavery from a slave's perspective, a plantation owner's perspective and an abolitionist's perspective.

5. Read a biography of an anti-slavery leader from the past or in the present day. Identify the historical and modern day challenges of helping slaves to escape to freedom.

6. Create a poster about the Modern Day anti-slavery movement for bulletin boards at school and in the local community.

Ninth through Twelfth Grades

1. Students participate in a class clustering/brainstorm activity about "The Modern Day Slave Trade." Divide the students into small groups and assign a subtopic for each group to investigate. Discuss with students how to look for information about their subtopic. Each group makes a presentation in order to share their findings with the class. Information can be located at www.iAbolish.com

2. Students write an editorial to a local newspaper about the Modern Day Slave Trade to raise awareness and to explain how their community can help to abolish it.

3. Students learn about and celebrate the International Day for the Remembrance of the Slave Trade and its Abolition on August 23 every year. Look at this web site for information about this event, http://www.hrea.org

Graphic Organizer

Below is a graphic organizer for comparing and contrasting the historical enslavement of AfricanAmericans in the United States to the Modern Day enslavement of people around the world. It has been completed for the teacher. Students create a blank grid and fill in the information after studying about the slave trade. In several of the categories, such as "Causes," students can write follow-up explanations, providing more detail about each cause. Students can also elaborate on the histroic and current legislation, such as the Trafficing Victims Protection Act, stating how they believe that legislation did-or is doing to stop slavery.

RESOURCES

Students, families and teachers can learn more about the slave trade in the United States and around the world through the American Anti-Slavery Group (AASG). It is a non-profit, non-partisan and non-sectarian organization. Members include people from many religious, ethnic and political groups.

iAbolish

198 Tremont Street, #421

Boston, MA 02116

phone 1-800-884-0719 Fax:1-617-507-8257

web site: www.iAbolish.com

email: info@iabolish.com

Bibliography

Bisson, Terry (1988). Black Americans of Achievement: Nat Turner, Slave Revolt Leader. New York: Chelsea House Publishers.