©reading through history€¦ · exactly why many owners did not want slaves to learn how to read....

©Reading Through History


Excerpt from: African American History

by Jake Henderson & Robert Marshall ©2013

All images are taken from public domain. This includes images taken by employees of

various US Government agencies; images published prior to 1923; or images that have otherwise

been released to public domain.

Please visit our websites at https://www.facebook.com/ReadingThroughHistory http://readingthroughhistory.com/

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©Reading Through History Page 1

Frederick Douglass

Frederick Douglass was one of the key figures of the Abolitionist Movement. Who was Frederick Douglass? Why is he important today?

Douglass was born and raised as a slave in Maryland. He was separated from his family when he was seven and was transferred from one owner to another, before ending up in the home of Hugh Auld. Auld’s wife, Sophie, was influential in Frederick’s life, for she taught him the basic skills of reading. Teaching slaves to read was highly discouraged—in fact, it was even illegal!

Douglass continued to teach himself how to read and write, in secret, and started reading everything he could find. The books, newspapers, and pamphlets he read, led him to think about slavery in new ways, and he began to understand how deplorable it really was. This was exactly why many owners did not want slaves to learn how to read. They feared that if slaves could read, they would begin to want more freedom.

Eventually, he began to teach other slaves to read. They would come and learn from him on a weekly basis. While Douglass’ owner saw no harm in the weekly sessions, others did not want their slaves taught by him. So, one Sunday, the owners broke up the meeting using clubs and rocks, and the group never met again.

Frederick eventually did try to seek his freedom. He attempted to escape twice, and failed, before finally succeeding on his third attempt. In September of 1838, he became a free man. (continued on next page)

Words to watch for:

discouraged deplorable

numerous tribute

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Page 2 ©Reading Through History

After gaining his freedom, Douglass quickly became involved in the Abolitionist Movement. At the age of 23, he delivered his first speech about how horrible his life as a slave had been. He quickly became well-known for his eloquent speeches and his writing ability. He spoke in numerous towns across the Midwest and Northeast United States. Not everyone was a fan of what he had to say, however. He was attacked verbally, and physically at various times, including one incident where he was chased by a violent mob.

Douglass authored several books, the most notable of which is his autobiography titled Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, An American Slave. The book was published in multiple languages, resulting in several European speaking tours. He also started his own newspaper, an anti-slavery publication known as The North Star.

During the Civil War, he served the Union by helping recruit soldiers for the 54th Massachusetts (a regiment made up entirely of African American soldiers). He also spoke with President Lincoln, regarding the treatment of black men serving in the army.

For the remainder of his life, Frederick Douglass continued to be an important figure, fighting not only for African American rights, but women’s rights as well. He remained a very outspoken man until 1895, when he suffered a massive heart attack and died at his home in Washington DC. Thousands arrived at his funeral to pay tribute to this great man.

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Multiple Choice: Select the choice that completes the statement or answers the question.

1.______ How did Frederick Douglass learn to read and write? a. He attended school, just as most boys and girls of that era did. b. He taught himself, after learning the basics from his owner’s wife. c. He was taught late in life, by William Lloyd Garrison. d. He never did learn how to read or write.

2.______ Why did slave owners not want their slaves to know how to read? a. They feared that if they knew how to read, they would desire more freedom. b. They didn’t want them to be able to read maps that showed escape routes. c. It was a long-held Southern tradition that reading led to impure thoughts. d. They did want slaves to read, and those who couldn’t learn, were punished. 3.______ What was the title of Frederick Douglass’ autobiography? a. The North Star b. The Portrait of an American Slave c. The Dream of Hope: The Story of Frederick Douglass d. Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, An American Slave

4.______ What was the name of the newspaper published by Frederick Douglass? a. The Liberator c. The Advocate b. The North Star d. The Phoenix

5.______ Which of these is not stated as something Frederick Douglass did during, or after, the Civil War? a. He recruited soldiers for the 54th Massachusetts Regiment. b. He continued campaigning for African American rights. c. He founded the early environmentalist movement. d. He fought for women’s rights. TRUE/FALSE: Indicate whether the statement is true or false. If the statement is false, write the correct word in the space provided to make the statement true.

6.______ Douglass was separated from his family in his late teens. _________________________

7.______ Teaching slaves to read was highly discouraged. _____________________

8.______ Douglass managed to escape slavery on his first attempt. _____________

9.______ Douglass gave his first public speech in Nantucket at the age of 23. ______________________

10._____ Douglass started his own newspaper, an anti-slavery publication known

as The Liberator. _____________________

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Guided Reading: Fill in the blanks below to create complete sentences.

1. Frederick Douglass was born and raised as a slave in ____________________.

2. ______________________ taught Douglass the basic skills of reading.

3. The books and other materials Douglass read, led him to think about _____________________ in new ways.

4. Many slave owners feared that if slaves could read, they would begin to want more _____________________.

5. In _______________________, Douglass became a free man.

6. Shortly after escaping, Douglass became involved in the ______________________ movement.

7. Douglass quickly became known for his ______________________ and his writing ability.

8. Douglass authored several books, including his _________________ titled Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, An American Slave.

9. During the Civil War, Douglass helped recruit soldiers for the ________________________ Regiment.

10. For the remainder of his life, Douglass continued fighting for both African American and _______________________.

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Vocabulary Check: Select the option that best identifies the use of the underlined word. 1.______ “Teaching slaves to read was highly discouraged—in fact, it

was even illegal!” In the prior sentence, the word discouraged means a. To inspire with hope, courage, or confidence; hearten. b. Laws encouraged owners to teach their slaves to read. c. Laws were put in place to prevent the practice of teaching

slaves to read. d. Most states had no stance on whether or not an owner taught

their slaves to read.

2.______ In the third paragraph, the word deplorable implies a. Positive; influential. b. Wretched; bad. c. Neutral; average. d. Arousing or deserving of pity or compassion; lamentable.

3.______ “He quickly became well-known for his eloquent speeches and his writing ability.” In the prior sentence, the word eloquent means a. Arousing disdainful pity. b. Characterized by persuasive, powerful discourse. c. Not producing an intended effect; ineffectual. d. Inadequate; incompetent.

4.______ In the sixth paragraph, the word numerous means a. Without number. b. Amounting to a large number; many. c. Douglass’ speeches were not well received. d. Douglass had a very short speaking career.

5.______ “Thousands arrived at his funeral to pay tribute to this great man.” In the previous sentence, the word tribute implies a. A payment or tax given. b. An obligation to make a payment. c. An acknowledgment of gratitude, respect, or admiration. d. A tax imposed.

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Reading Comprehension & More: Select the choice that answers the question.

1.______ Which of the following best describes the main idea of this lesson? a. Frederick Douglass was taught how to read by his owner’s wife, which was actually

illegal at the time. b. Frederick Douglass authored several books and was the publisher of The North Star. c. Frederick Douglass lived a fascinating life and was one of the key figures in the

Abolitionist Movement. d. Frederick Douglass recruited soldiers for the 54th Massachusetts and spoke with

President Lincoln during the Civil War.

2.______ Which of the following sentences best supports the main idea of this lesson? a. Douglass was born and raised as a slave in Maryland. b. Auld’s wife, Sophie, was influential in Frederick’s life, for she taught him the basic

skills of reading. c. At the age of 23, he delivered his first speech about how horrible his life as a slave

had been. d. During the Civil War, he served the Union by helping recruit soldiers for the 54th

Massachusetts.

3.______ Read paragraph eight of this lesson. Which of the following could be inferred based on the information in this paragraph? a. There were many African American regiments in the Union Army. b. Frederick Douglass was a very good recruiter for the Union Army. c. President Lincoln spoke frequently with Frederick Douglass and other former slaves. d. Black men serving in the Union Army were probably not being treated as well

as white soldiers.

4.______ Which statement best summarizes paragraph seven of this lesson? a. Frederick Douglass is remembered as one of the greatest authors of the 1800s. b. Frederick Douglass published a newspaper called The North Star and authored

several books as well. c. The North Star was the most widely read of all the anti-slavery publications. d. Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, An American Slave was the first

book known to be authored by an African American.

5.______ Which of the following statements is probably the most accurate? a. The Abolitionist Movement probably wouldn’t have existed without Frederick Douglass. b. The Abolitionist Movement was not as effective at ending slavery as it should have been. c. Frederick Douglass became a key figure in the Abolition Movement because of his intelligence. d. Frederick Douglass was known by more people during his lifetime than he is today.

6.______ Which of the following statements is an opinion? a. Frederick Douglass taught other slaves how to read. b. In September of 1838, Frederick Douglass became a free man. c. Frederick Douglass authored several books. d. Frederick Douglass was an eloquent speaker.

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Summarize: Answer the following questions in the space provided. Attempt to respond in a complete sentence for each question. Be sure to use correct capitalization and punctuation!

1. Who taught Frederick Douglass to read? 2. What happened to Frederick Douglass’ attempts to teach other slaves to read? 3. When did Frederick Douglass die? 4. Where was Frederick Douglass originally from? 5. Why did slave owners not want their slaves to learn how to read? 6. How did Frederick Douglass serve the Union during the Civil War? Student Response: Please respond to the questions raised below. A thorough response should be a paragraph of at least three to five complete sentences. 7. Why do you suppose that Frederick Douglass, a former male slave, was a champion of women’s rights as well as African American rights? What might it say about the era in which he lived?

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The Abolitionist Movement

In the years leading up to the Civil War, abolitionists encouraged an end to the institution of slavery. Who were the abolitionists? How big was the movement?

Abolitionists were those who opposed slavery. They did so for many reasons. Some saw how slavery tore families apart. Others saw how the institution corrupted many owners who were otherwise good people. Still others saw the religious and moral implications of holding another against their will. However, regardless of their reasons, they all saw slavery for the evil abomination that it was.

The leader of the Abolitionist Movement in the United States was William Lloyd Garrison. Garrison founded the American Anti-Slavery Society and published an anti-slavery newspaper known as The Liberator. The Liberator had a very small circulation, never reaching more than about 3,000 subscribers. However, there were undoubtedly many people who read The Liberator regularly, but were not subscribers. Its influence was widespread throughout the 1840s and 50s.

Some involved in the Abolitionist Movement were former slaves. The most prominent of these was Frederick Douglass. Douglass was an eloquent writer and speaker who had a newspaper of his own called The North Star. Sojourner Truth and Harriet Tubman were also former slaves who appeared at events around the country to speak on the evils of slavery.

Other women were also involved in the Abolitionist Movement. One of the most notable was Harriet Beecher Stowe. Her novel, Uncle Tom’s Cabin, became one of the most influential pieces of anti-slavery literature in the 1850s.

Two other women who played an important role were the Grimké sisters. Angelina and Sara Grimké were Southerners who grew to see slavery for what it was. After moving north, they wrote several anti-slavery pamphlets and toured the nation speaking to different audiences. Being Southerners, their perspective was valued by many people.

Most abolitionists were peaceful and worked to abolish slavery through speeches and writings. But some thought the best way to end slavery would be through violence. This view is best displayed through an aggressive abolitionist named John Brown. In 1859, he and over 20 others seized a federal armory in Harper’s Ferry, Virginia. They believed that their actions would cause a massive slave revolt. This did not happen, and Brown was captured. He was tried for treason and hanged.

The American abolitionist came in many different forms. However, whether they were wealthy white men, former slaves, women, or violent activists, they all shared one goal. They all hoped to bring an end to the institution of slavery.

William Lloyd Garrison

Words to watch for:

implications abomination

perspective eloquent

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Multiple Choice: Select the choice that completes the statement or answers the question. 1.______ Why was William Lloyd Garrison significant?

a. He wrote an influential novel titled Uncle Tom’s Cabin. b. He was a former slave who spoke to audiences about the evils of slavery. c. He was the leader of the Abolitionist Movement in the United States. d. He was the American President who finally abolished slavery.

2.______ What was the name of William Lloyd Garrison’s newspaper? a. The North Star c. The Advocate b. The Liberator d. The Daily News

3.______ Which of these women is not mentioned as being involved with the Abolitionist Movement?

a. Harriet Tubman c. Sojourner Truth b. Harriet Beecher Stowe d. Harriet Ward Chapman

4.______ Why did people listen to the Grimké sisters? a. Since they were born in the South, their perspective was valued. b. They were known as the most eloquent speakers the era. c. Since they had been slaves themselves, people knew they were speaking the truth. d. They were the only ones telling the truth about how awful slavery really was.

5.______ Which of these best describes what John Brown did? a. He started several abolitionist newspapers and spread the word across the country. b. He organized a raid at Harper’s Ferry, Virginia, thinking it would spark a slave revolt. c. He organized the Underground Railroad and helped thousands of slaves escape. d. He created the 54th Massachusetts, the first entirely African American regiment.

TRUE/FALSE: Indicate whether the statement is true or false. If the statement is false, write the correct word in the space provided to make the statement true.

6.______ Many abolitionists opposed slavery for the way it tore families apart. _______________________

7.______ The influence of Garrison’s abolitionist newspaper was widespread throughout the 1870s and 80s. _____________________

8.______ Angelina and Sara Grimké were Northerners who grew to see slavery for what it was. _____________________

9.______ John Brown attempted to seize a federal arsenal in Harper’s Ferry, VA. ________________________

10._____ John Brown was tried for treason and imprisoned for life. ________________________

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1. Abolitionists sought an end to the institution of ____________________________.

2. Abolitionists argued that the institution of slavery _____________________ many owners.

3. Many who opposed slavery argued that there were religious and ___________________

implications in holding others against their will. 4. William Lloyd Garrison founded the ________________________.

5. The most prominent former slave involved in the Abolitionist Movement was _______________________________.

6. Douglass had a newspaper of his own called ______________________________.

7. Harriet Beecher Stowe’s novel, _________________________________, became one of the most influential pieces of anti-slavery literature in the 1850s.

8. Since the Grimké sisters were __________________________, their perspective on slavery was valued by many people.

9. Most abolitionists worked to abolish slavery through ________________________________.

10. Abolitionists such as _____________________________ felt that the best way to abolish slavery was through violence. Vocabulary: Match each word with its correct definition. Consider how the word is used in the lesson. This might help you define each term. Use a dictionary to help if necessary. a. implication d. perspective b. abomination e. treason c. eloquent

11.______ the connection of two things by use of reason or logic.

12.______ point of view; a way of thinking about a situation

13.______ characterized by persuasive, powerful discourse

14.______ acting to overthrow one’s government

15.______ something that is vile, shameful, or detestable

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Reading Comprehension & More: Select the choice that answers the question.

1.______ Which of the following best describes the main idea of this lesson? a. There were many abolitionists working to end slavery in different ways. b. William Lloyd Garrison was the most well-known abolitionist in the nation. c. The Liberator and The North Star were the two most widely read abolitionist newspapers. d. Sojourner Truth, Harriet Beecher Stowe, and the Grimke Sisters were all important women

in the Abolitionist Movement.

2._____ Which of the following sentences best supports the main idea of this lesson? a. Abolitionists were those who opposed slavery. b. The leader of the Abolitionist Movement in the United States was William Lloyd Garrison. c. Two other women who played an important role were the Grimke Sisters. d. Most abolitionists were peaceful and worked to abolish slavery through speeches

and writings.

3.______ Read the third paragraph. Based on the information in this paragraph, which of the following can be inferred? a. The Abolitionist Movement in the United States would not have existed without

William Lloyd Garrison. b. The Liberator did not have many subscribers because very few people could read in

the 1800s. c. There were many people who read The Liberator but did not subscribe because they

did not want to be associated with the Abolitionist Movement. d. The Liberator was not a very good newspaper or it would have had more subscribers.

4.______ Which of the following best summarizes the information in paragraph seven? a. Some thought the best way to end slavery was through violence. b. John Brown’s raid failed. He was caught and tried for treason. c. In 1859, John Brown led a massive slave revolt that marked the beginning

of the Abolitionist Movement. d. John Brown seized an armory at Harper’s Ferry, believing it would cause a

massive slave revolt.

5.______ Which of the following statements is false? a. Sojourner Truth was a former slave who spoke about the evils of slavery. b. Harriet Tubman wrote the novel Uncle Tom’s Cabin. c. Angelina and Sara Grimke wrote anti-slavery pamphlets. d. Angelina and Sara Grimke were from the South.

6.______ Which of the following statements is an opinion? a. The North Star was published by Frederick Douglass. b. Frederick Douglass was a former slave who spoke out against slavery. c. The North Star was more effective than The Liberator at advancing the

Abolitionist Movement. d. Harriet Tubman and Sojourner Truth were both former slaves who spoke out

on the evils of slavery.

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1. Who was the publisher of The Liberator? 2. What was the name of Frederick Douglass’ newspaper? 3. When did John Brown lead his raid on Harper’s Ferry? 4. Where were Angelina & Sara Grimke from? 5. Why were speakers such as Frederick Douglass, Harriet Tubman, and Sojourner Truth so effective? 6. How did most abolitionists work to abolish slavery?

Student Response: Please respond to the questions raised below. A thorough response should be a paragraph of at least three to five complete sentences.

7. In your reading, you learned that abolitionists came from many different walks of life. Why do you believe that some, such as John Brown, felt that violence was necessary to bring an end to the institution of slavery?

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Uncle Tom’s Cabin

One of the most influential novels of the 1800s was Uncle Tom’s Cabin. Why was this book so important? Just how popular was it?

In June of 1851, an abolitionist newspaper called National Era published the first of what would eventually be a 40-week-long serial. The story became so popular that the newspaper’s editor convinced the author to publish the series as a full-length novel. The author’s name was Harriet Beecher Stowe, and her novel was titled Uncle Tom’s Cabin.

The book relays the story of several slaves, including Tom, and their owners. One central character, a slave woman named Eliza, learns that her son is about to be sold to a slave trader. Rather than lose her only son, she decides to run away with him. As the tale unfolds, the reader begins to understand how the lives of slaves and owners were interconnected. The major themes of the story include the corrupting nature of slavery and how the institution divided and destroyed families.

As soon as it was published, Uncle Tom’s Cabin was instantly successful. It sold over 300,000 copies in its first year. The book was lauded by abolitionists who praised it for exposing the evils of slavery. However, Southerners were outraged, claiming the book had no basis in fact.

The novel was overwhelmingly persuasive. It helped fuel the momentum of the abolitionist cause in the 1850s. It has even been credited by many historians for helping to lay the groundwork for the American Civil War.

Not long after its publication, a live theatrical version of Uncle Tom’s Cabin began touring the country. Other than the names of the central characters, this live version had little in common with the book, but it became equally influential (if not more so). For comparison, it is estimated that nearly ten times as many people saw the play as read the book. Different stage versions of the story continued to be performed throughout the 1800s and even well

into the 20th Century.

As for the novel, its popularity continued to grow, especially during the years of the Civil War. It was translated into no less than twenty languages, including Chinese! It was the best-selling novel of the 19th Century, and for a brief time, it outsold every other book except the Bible.

Harriet Beecher Stowe

Words to watch for:

influential serial

corrupting lauded

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Multiple Choice: Select the choice that completes the statement or answers the question.

1.______ How was Uncle Tom’s Cabin first published? a. Each copy was handwritten. b. It was originally a stage play and then later adapted into a novel. c. It was published as a serial in a newspaper, over the course of 40 weeks. d. Each copy included hand-drawn illustrations by the author.

2.______ Who wrote Uncle Tom’s Cabin? a. William Lloyd Garrison c. Elizabeth Cady Stanton b. Frederick Douglass d. Harriet Beecher Stowe

3.______ Which of these is a central theme of Uncle Tom’s Cabin? a. The institution of slavery divided and destroyed families. b. Slavery was an institution that helped make the United States a great nation. c. The United States needed to continue expanding slavery into the western territories. d. Money is the root of all evil.

4.______ How did Southerners react to Uncle Tom’s Cabin? a. There was not much of a reaction because the book wasn’t that popular. b. They were amused by the novel and mistook it for a comedy. c. It caused many slave owners to change their minds about slavery. d. They were outraged, claiming the novel had no basis in fact.

5.______ Which of the following is true about the Uncle Tom’s Cabin stage play? a. The stage version was an exact, word-for-word reproduction of the book. b. Nearly ten times as many people saw the play as read the book. c. The play was nowhere near as popular as the book. d. There was no stage play, because the author would not allow it.

TRUE/FALSE: Indicate whether the statement is true or false. If the statement is false, write the correct word in the space provided to make the statement true.

6.______ In 1851, an abolitionist newspaper began publishing Uncle Tom’s Cabin as part of a 40-week-long serial. ___________________

7.______ Harriet Beecher Stowe was the author of Uncle Tom’s Cabin. ________________________________

8.______ Uncle Tom’s Cabin sold less than 300,000 copies in the first year. ________________________________

9.______ Many Northerners were outraged by Uncle Tom’s Cabin, claiming that the book had no basis in fact. _____________________

10._____ Many historians have credited Stowe’s novel with helping to start the American Civil War. ____________________________

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1. Uncle Tom’s Cabin was one of the most influential novels of the ________________.

2. The _____________________ originally published Uncle Tom’s Cabin as a long-running serial.

3. In the novel, a slave woman named ________________ decides to run away with her child in order to prevent him from being sold to a slave trader.

4. One of the major themes of Uncle Tom’s Cabin is the _____________ nature of slavery.

5. Uncle Tom’s Cabin was lauded by _______________________ who praised it for exposing the evils of slavery.

6. The success of Uncle Tom’s Cabin helped to fuel the momentum of the Abolitionist Movement during the decade of the __________________.

7. Shortly after its publication, a live ___________________________ of Uncle Tom’s Cabin began touring the country.

8. It is estimated that nearly __________________ as many people saw the play as read the book.

9. The popularity of Stowe’s novel continued to grow, especially during the years of the _________________________.

10. Uncle Tom’s Cabin was the __________________________________ of the 19th Century.

Vocabulary: Match each word with its correct definition. Consider how the word is used in the lesson. This might help you define each term. Use a dictionary to help if necessary.

a. influential d. laud b. serial e. abolitionist c. corrupt

11.______ something published in short installments

12.______ a person who supported outlawing slavery

13.______ someone or something others will listen to or consider important

14.______ praise or honor

15.______ dishonest practices; wicked

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Reading Comprehension & More: Select the choice that answers the question. 1.______ Which of the following best describes the main idea of this lesson?

a. Uncle Tom’s Cabin was once very popular, outselling every book except the Bible. b. Uncle Tom’s Cabin was an influential novel which fueled the Abolitionist Movement in

the 1850s. c. Uncle Tom’s Cabin was turned into a stage play which became incredibly popular in

the late 1800s. d. Uncle Tom’s Cabin was nearly forgotten until it was recently discovered by historians.

2.______ Which of the following sentences best supports the main idea of this lesson? a. The book relays the story of several slaves, including Tom, and their owners. b. The book was lauded by abolitionists who praised it for exposing the evils of slavery. c. Not long after its publication, a live theatrical version of Uncle Tom’s Cabin began

touring the country. d. It was translated into no less than 20 languages, including Chinese!

3.______ Read paragraph six of this lesson. Based on the information in this paragraph, which evaluation is probably the most accurate? a. The live theatrical version of Uncle Tom’s Cabin must have been much

better than the novel. b. The play of Uncle Tom’s Cabin was a much more accurate portrayal of

slavery than the novel was. c. More people are willing to sit and watch a play than read a novel. d. Uncle Tom’s Cabin is thought of as the greatest play of the 1800s.

4.______ Which of the following best describes the plot to Uncle Tom’s Cabin? a. A slave betrays his fellow slaves by reporting their plan to escape. b. A slave’s cabin is the focal point of several different interlocking stories. c. A slave and her master decide to run away together to get married. d. A slave decides to run away after learning her son is going to be sold.

5.______ Which of the following best summarizes the second paragraph of this lesson? a. Uncle Tom’s Cabin was first published in a newspaper, but it was eventually

released as a full-length novel. b. Uncle Tom’s Cabin was written by Harriet Beecher Stowe. At first, it was a

secret who wrote it because she was a woman. c. Uncle Tom’s Cabin was originally published as a 40 week long serial in the

National Era newspaper. d. The National Era’s editor did not like the story at first, but its popularity

amongst the average people convinced him to publish it.

6.______ Which of the following statements is a fact? a. Uncle Tom’s Cabin was written by Harriet Beecher Stowe. b. Uncle Tom’s Cabin exposed the evils of slavery. c. Uncle Tom’s Cabin had no basis in fact. d. Uncle Tom’s Cabin is the most influential book of the 1800s.

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1. Who wrote Uncle Tom’s Cabin? 2. What do many historians credit Uncle Tom’s Cabin for? 3. When did National Era first publish Uncle Tom’s Cabin? 4. Where (part of the country) were people outraged by Uncle Tom’s Cabin? 5. Why did abolitionists praise Uncle Tom’s Cabin? 6. How many copies did Uncle Tom’s Cabin sell in its first year?

Student Response: Please respond to the questions raised below. A thorough response should be a paragraph of at least three to five complete sentences.

7. Why do you suppose Uncle Tom’s Cabin was originally published as a 40-

week-long series in an abolitionist newspaper rather than as an independent novel?


Answer Key: Frederick Douglass: Multiple Choice:

1) B 2) A 3) D 4) B 5) C

True/False:

6) F – the age of seven 7) T 8) F – third 9) T 10) F –The North Star

Guided Reading:

1) Maryland 2) Auld’s wife (or his owner’s wife) 3) Slavery 4) Freedom 5) September of 1838 6) Abolitionist 7) Eloquent speeches 8) Autobiography 9) 54th Massachusetts 10) Women’s Rights

Vocabulary Check:

1) C 2) B 3) B 4) B 5) C

Reading Comprehension & More:

1) C 2) C 3) D 4) B 5) C 6) D

Summarize: 1) His owner’s wife, Sophie, taught Frederick Douglass how to read. 2) The meetings were broken up by a group of owners with clubs and rocks. 3) Frederick Douglass died in 1895. 4) Frederick Douglass was originally from Maryland. 5) Slave owners did not want their slaves to read because they feared they would start wanting more freedom. 6) Frederick Douglass served the Union by recruiting soldiers for the 54th Massachusetts. Student Response:

6) Student answers will vary


The Abolitionists: Multiple Choice:

1) C 2) B 3) D 4) A 5) B

True/False:

6) T 7) F – 1840s & 50s 8) F – Southerners 9) T 10) F - hanged

Guided Reading:

1) Slavery 2) Corrupted 3) Moral 4) American Anti-Slavery Society 5) Frederick Douglass 6) The North Star 7) Uncle Tom’s Cabin 8) Southerners 9) Speeches and writings (or peaceful means) 10) John Brown

Vocabulary Check:

11) A 12) D 13) C 14) E 15) B


1) A 2) D 3) C 4) D 5) B 6) C

Summarize: 1) William Lloyd Garrison was the publisher of The Liberator. 2) The name of Frederick Douglass’ newspaper was The North Star. 3) John Brown’s raid on Harper’s Ferry occurred in 1859. 4) Angelina & Sara Grimke were from the South. 5) Speakers like Frederick Douglass, Harriet Tubman, and Sojourner Truth were so effective because they were former slaves. 6) Most abolitionists tried to abolish slavery through speeches and writings. Student Response:

7) Student responses will vary


Uncle Tom’s Cabin Multiple Choice:

1) C 2) D 3) A 4) D 5) B

True and False:

6) T 7) T 8) F – more than 9) F - Southerners 10) T

Guided Reading:

1) 1800s (or 19th Century) 2) National Era 3) Eliza 4) Corrupting 5) Abolitionists 6) 1850s 7) Theatrical version (or stage play) 8) Ten times 9) Civil War 10) Best-selling novel

Vocabulary Check:

11) B 12) E 13) A 14) D 15) C


1) B 2) B 3) C 4) D 5) A 6) A

Summarize: 1) Harriet Beecher Stowe wrote Uncle Tom’s Cabin. 2) Many historians credit Uncle Tom’s Cabin for helping lay the groundwork for the Civil War. 3) National Era first published Uncle Tom’s Cabin in June of 1851. 4) People were outraged by Uncle Tom’s Cabin in the South. 5) Abolitionists praised Uncle Tom’s Cabin for exposing the evils of slavery. 6) Uncle Tom’s Cabin sold 300,000 copies in its first year. Student Response:

7) Student responses will vary.

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