Topic: ROLE OF SLAVERY IN EARLY ARK. SETTLEMENTS

Grade level: Tenth through Twelfth

Time: One week, this lesson one day

Ark. History Frameworks: 1.1.11, 1.1.16, 1.1.19, 1.1.24, 1.1.14

Objective: Students will understand the role of slavery in the development of pre-Civil War Arkansas. Students will trace the events of the French, Spanish, and American settlers who each played roles in the establishment of slavery through a geographic time line.

Set: On chalk board list location of various pockets of slavery based on previous reading assignment.

Resources: Negro Slavery in Arkansas, Orville W. Taylor
Arkansas 1800-1860 Remote and Restless, S. Charles Bolten

Materials: Handout on slavery in Arkansas given to students in class period at least one day before lesson.
Outline maps of Arkansas beginning with the French explorers of 1790's
Plain white paper for time lines
Markers

Activities: Put students in 4 to 6 groups (4-5 students maximum in each group)
On chalkboard list locations of various pockets of slavery based on previous reading assignment.
Hand out maps and instruct students to plot locations of slavery in each decade from 1790 through 1860.
Instruct students to construct a time line using information from maps. Each group will be assigned specific time periods. (1790-1800,1800-1810, etc.) Time lines should be large print.
Beginning with the group assigned 1790-1800, have students hang time line sections on wall.

Class Essay

Make assignment for following class period. Students should be prepared to discuss findings about settlements plotted on maps. Why settlement located in certain areas? How did settlement survive? What brought other settlers to area?

Closure: Review information orally with students.

By Margaret Thompson