Primary Sources, Student Activities, Teacher Reference Materials

How did the slavery economy contribute to the American Revolution in Salem?

Grade Level:: High School: Ninth Grade through Twelfth Grade
Subject:: Social Studies
Common Core Standards:: 9-10.RH.1, 9-10.RH.2, 9-10.RH.7, 9-10.RH.9, 9-10.RH.10, 11-12.RH.1, 11-12.RH.2, 11-12.RH.5, 11-12.RH.7, 11-12.RH.9, 11-12.RH.10, 9-10.WHST.1, 9-10.WHST.1.a, 9-10.WHST.1.b, 11-12.WHST.1, 11-12.WHST.1.a, 11-12.WHST.1.b
State Standards:: Massachusetts History & Social Science Frameworks
US History I: Topic 1, #1, #3, #4

Students use two 18th century primary source documents to explore the economic forces that contributed to the American Revolution in Salem, specifically the 1764 Sugar Act and the "business of slavery."

This activity may be used alone or as part of the three-part activity series examining Richard Derby's connections to slavery and the slavery economy.

1. How did slavery connect Salem to a global economy?
2. Who were the enslaved people in Salem?
3. How did the slavery economy contribute to the American Revolution in Salem?

Procedure

1. Introduce students to background information and primary source documents (found in Student Materials).
2. Students complete graphic organizer.
Optional
3. Introduce supplemental primary source documents to give students further context.
4. Expand activity by taking the NPS App audio tour, "The Business of Slavery" and exploring places at Salem Maritime.

A Note on Language

Over the course of American history, the language used to describe Black people has changed and most likely will continue to change. Be sure to discuss with students that some of the primary sources use outdated terms as well as racist and offensive language to describe Black people. We recommend developing a plan or guidelines to ensure a respectful, reflective classroom discussion.

A Note on Transcriptions

The primary source transcriptions included in "Student Materials" are heavily modified for length and clarity. We have worked to keep the documents representative of their original versions. You can find original transcriptions in "Teacher Materials."