Guided Notes: Join the Resistance!
Key Vocabulary
| Word | Meaning (use context clues) | Hidden Meaning | |-------------|------------------------------------------------------------|-----------------------------------| | Fiction | Not true, something made up to entertain or deceive | Can hold truths about society | | Emancipate | To release from slavery | Symbolizes hope for freedom | | Literacy | The ability to read and write | Key to empowerment and change | | Abolition | The official ending of the practice of enslavement | Represents moral progress |
Questions About the Cotton Gin
Benefits of the Invention of the Cotton Gin
- Increased cotton production efficiency, allowing for quicker processing of cotton fiber, which greatly boosted the cotton industry.
- Contributed to the economic growth of the Southern states in the U.S., making cotton a dominant cash crop.
- Enabled planters to meet the rising demand for cotton due to the expansion of textile manufacturing, particularly in Britain and the Northern states.
Drawbacks, or Negative Consequences, of the Invention of the Cotton Gin
- Led to an increase in the demand for enslaved labor, as plantation owners sought to maximize their profits from cotton cultivation.
- Reinforced the institution of slavery and extended its practice in the United States, creating a deeper division between the North and South.
- Contributed to social and economic disparities, as wealth concentrated in the hands of a few plantation owners while many individuals remained in bondage.
Chart on Resistance to Slavery
| Person, Place, or Event | What Happened | |---------------------------------------------|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | Jonathan Walker arrested in 1844 | Walker was found guilty of “slave stealing.” He was a ship captain who transported formerly enslaved persons to freedom. Admirers noted the brand on his hand, “SS,” symbolized his status as a “slave savior.” | | Harriet Tubman and the Underground Railroad | Harriet Tubman escaped from slavery and returned to the South many times to help other enslaved people escape through the network of safe houses known as the Underground Railroad. | | Nat Turner's Rebellion (1831) | A violent uprising led by Nat Turner in Virginia, where a group of enslaved people revolted against their masters, resulting in the deaths of numerous individuals and harsh reprisals against the enslaved community. | | Frederick Douglass’ speeches | Douglass, an escaped enslaved person, became a prominent abolitionist who eloquently spoke out against the injustices of slavery, advocating for emancipation and civil rights. | | The publication of "The Liberator" | William Lloyd Garrison published this abolitionist newspaper, which called for the immediate abolition of slavery and inspired many to join the fight against it. | | The Dred Scott Decision (1857) | A Supreme Court case where an enslaved man, Dred Scott, sued for his freedom. The ruling stated that African Americans were not citizens and had no right to sue, amplifying tensions over slavery. |
Feel free to add additional details or events related to the resistance against slavery as you continue your studies!