#AP US History: Slavery & Resistance - The Night Before

Hey! Let's get you feeling confident for your APUSH exam. We're going to break down slavery and resistance, hitting all the key points you need to know. Think of this as your ultimate cheat sheet—no fluff, just the stuff that matters. Let's do this! 💪

#1. The "Peculiar Institution"

#1.1. What Was It?

• Definition: "Peculiar institution" was a euphemism for slavery, used by some whites who felt uneasy about the practice. 😬
• Wealth Measurement: In the South, wealth = land + slaves. Slaves were considered property, bought and sold like any other commodity.
• Labor:
  • Most slaves worked in fields, but some were skilled craftsmen, house servants, or worked in factories/construction.
  • Gang System: On large plantations in the Cotton Belt, slaves worked in "gangs" under an overseer, often with black "drivers" enforcing a sun-up to sun-down workday (6 days a week). 😓
  • Task System: In the low country of SC and GA (rice cultivation), slaves had more autonomy, completing tasks within an 8-hour day. 😌
  • Urban Slaves: Often enjoyed more autonomy, sometimes living apart from masters and hiring themselves out.
• Internal Slave Trade: Due to cotton profits, many slaves were sold from the Upper South to the Deep South.

#1.2. Religious Justifications for Slavery

• Biblical Arguments: Some used religion to justify slavery, claiming it was ordained by God and supported by the Bible. 🙄
• Economic Necessity: Others argued slavery was essential for economic stability and growth. 💰
• Moral Opposition: Despite these arguments, many opposed slavery, viewing it as morally wrong and a violation of human rights. 🙌

#2. Life for Enslaved Peoples

#2.1. Conditions of Slavery

• Varied Treatment: Conditions varied widely; some slaves were treated "humanely," while others faced routine beatings. 😥
• Loss of Freedom: All slaves suffered from the deprivation of their freedom. 💔
• Family Separation: Families could be separated at any time through sale. 😭
• Vulnerability: Women were particularly vulnerable to sexual exploitation. 😞
• Living Arrangements: Most slaves lived on plantations with 20+ slaves; few lived in closed black communities. 🏘️

#2.2. Control and Resistance

• Master's Tactics: Masters used physical and psychological means to enforce obedience, trying to convince slaves of white superiority. 😠
• Cultural Resilience: Enslaved people maintained cultural traditions, religions, and secret societies. ✊
• Forms of Resistance: Resistance included sabotage, running away, and participating in revolts. 🏃🏾‍♀️
• Manumission: Some slaves gained freedom through manumission (being freed by their owners). 🥳

#3. Early Attempts Against Slavery

#3.1. Vesey Slave Conspiracy (1822)

• Denmark Vesey: A former slave who bought his freedom, planned a major revolt in Charleston, SC. 🤯
• Plan: Seize Charleston, kill the governor, and burn the city. 🔥
• Outcome: The plot was leaked, and Vesey and his conspirators were captured and hanged. 💀
• Aftermath: South Carolina responded with stricter slave codes and greater repression. 🔒

#4. Life in the North

#4.1. Freedom vs. Equality

• Demographics: Only 1% of the Northern population was African American. 🧑🏿‍🤝‍🧑🏻
• Discrimination: Despite freedom, African Americans faced segregation and could not vote. 🚫
• African Methodist Episcopal Church: The first black-run Protestant church, formed in response to discrimination in the Methodist Episcopal Church. ⛪
• Abolitionist Movement: Many members refused to buy goods produced by slaves. ✊
• David Walker: Wrote Appeal to the Colored Citizens of the World, a radical abolitionist text calling for resistance. ✍🏿

#5. Nat Turner’s Rebellion (1831)

#5.1. The Revolt

• Nat Turner: An enslaved Baptist preacher who believed he was chosen by God to lead his people to freedom. 🙏
• The Rebellion: Turner and his followers killed 55 white people in a day, moving from plantation to plantation. 🔪
• Suppression: The rebellion was put down by local militia, with many African Americans killed without trial. 😥
• Consequences: Turner was hanged, and the revolt led to increased fear and harsher laws against enslaved people. 🔒

Nat Turner's Rebellion is a key example of violent resistance and its impact on Southern society. It led to harsher laws and increased fear among slaveholders.

#6. Passive Resistance

#6.1. Forms of Resistance

• Indirect Resistance: Most slaves used passive methods due to the low odds of successful violent revolt. 🤷🏾
• Slowdowns: Working slowly or inefficiently. 🐌
• Withholding Labor: Feigning illness or injury. 🤕
• Theft: Stealing provisions, seen as reclaiming their labor. 🍎
• Sabotage: Damaging tools and equipment. 🛠️
• Animal Neglect: Mistreating animals. 🐴
• Arson: Setting fires to barns. 🔥
• Poisoning: A final act of resistance. ☠️

#7. The Underground Railroad

#7.1. Escape to Freedom

• Definition: A network of people who helped slaves escape to the North and Canada. 🛤️
• Secrecy: Operated secretly and covertly. 🤫
• Key Figures:
  • Harriet Tubman: Most well-known "conductor," helped over 300 slaves escape. 🦸🏾‍♀️

#Image Courtesy of Wikimedia

#Final Exam Focus

#Key Topics

• The Peculiar Institution: Understand the economics and social structure of slavery. Jump to Peculiar Institution
• Forms of Resistance: Know the difference between violent and passive resistance. Jump to Passive Resistance
• Impact of Rebellions: Understand the consequences of revolts like Vesey's and Turner's. Jump to Early Attempts, Jump to Nat Turner's Rebellion
• Underground Railroad: Know its significance and key figures like Harriet Tubman. Jump to Underground Railroad

#Common Question Types

• Multiple Choice: Expect questions on the economic, social, and political aspects of slavery, as well as resistance movements.
• Short Answer: Be prepared to explain the impact of specific events like Nat Turner's Rebellion or the significance of the Underground Railroad.
• Free Response: You might need to analyze the different forms of resistance to slavery or compare and contrast the lives of enslaved people in different regions.

#Last-Minute Tips

• Time Management: Don't spend too long on any one question. Move on and come back if you have time. ⏱️
• Common Pitfalls: Avoid generalizations about the treatment of slaves. Be specific and nuanced in your answers.
• Strategies: For FRQs, make sure to address all parts of the prompt and provide specific historical evidence to support your claims. 🤔

#Practice Questions

Practice Question

#Multiple Choice Questions

1. Which of the following best describes the “task system” of slave labor? (A) Slaves worked under constant supervision from sunup to sundown. (B) Slaves were assigned specific tasks to complete each day, with more autonomy. (C) Slaves worked in large groups, performing the same task simultaneously. (D) Slaves were rotated between different jobs to maximize productivity.

2. The primary goal of the Underground Railroad was to: (A) Provide legal representation for enslaved people. (B) Organize political protests against slavery. (C) Assist enslaved people in escaping to freedom. (D) Negotiate with slaveholders for better treatment of enslaved people.

3. Which of the following is NOT a form of passive resistance used by enslaved people? (A) Working slowly (B) Feigning illness (C) Stealing provisions (D) Organizing armed revolts

#Short Answer Question

Explain how religious arguments were used both to justify and resist slavery in the United States during the antebellum period.

#Free Response Question

Analyze the various methods of resistance used by enslaved people in the United States before the Civil War. In your response, be sure to discuss the effectiveness of each method and provide specific examples.

Scoring Breakdown:

• Thesis (1 point): A clear, historically defensible thesis statement that addresses the prompt.
• Evidence (2-3 points): Provides specific examples of different resistance methods (e.g., passive resistance, sabotage, running away, revolts).
• Analysis (2-3 points): Analyzes the effectiveness of each method, explaining why some were more common or more successful than others. (e.g., why passive resistance was more common than violent revolt).
• Synthesis/Complexity (1 point): Demonstrates a complex understanding of the topic by connecting resistance to larger themes or historical developments (e.g., the impact of resistance on slaveholder behavior or the development of abolitionist movements).

You got this! Remember, you've studied hard, and you're ready to ace this exam. Stay calm, and trust your knowledge. Let's go get that 5! 🚀