Essential Questions
1. What arguments did the abolitionists use to oppose slavery? What arguments did their opponents use?
2. Why did so many people in the North resist antislavery reform in the 1830s and 1840s?
3. What were the methods used by the abolitionists to persuade the American people? How well did they work?


Overview
This lesson contains primary source documents, grouped by a thematic topic for study. They provide historical understanding of American history during the early nineteenth century. During this time of expansion and reform, these documents and images reveal the values and culture that shaped our history, promote historical thinking, and stimulate class discussion, debate, and writing.

All of the documents are from the New England area and provide information about the growing concern about slavery in the United States during the first half of the nineteenth century.

• Teachers can effectively incorporate them into a lesson or create new lessons around them. Each primary source document is accompanied by a headnote that provides information pertinent to the document.
  
• A historical background paper, included with the Papers and Articles, provides some additional information and context for the selected documents.
  
• Additional Teacher Resources, Papers and Articles, and an Activity Sheet are included to assist teachers and students using these materials.
  
• A curriculum introducing primary sources is available as a Unit Plan.

Skills
Students will utilize the following skills:

• Interpret and analyze primary source documents
• Develop research skills
• Develop historical understanding

Grade Level
Middle, High School

Objectives
Use primary source documents to read about firsthand accounts of Northern views about slavery in the early 1800s.

---

National Standards

---