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This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. Once the slaves left the field, what did they do?

2. In southern society, a man's status was based upon:

3. What was the typical work hours for a slave who worked in the field?

4. How was slavery in the United States different than slavery in other countries?

5. How was Frank Cooper and his sister given a taste of slavery?

Short Essay Questions

1. What kept the slaves working in the fields day in and day out?

2. According to Chapter 3, what were the conditions of the slave homes that belonged to George Washington?

3. Describe what the slave coffle was.

4. What was Julius Lester's purpose for writing "To Be a Slave" and did he accomplish it?

5. Discuss what Patsy Michener meant when she said, "Two snakes full of poison. One lying with his head pointed north, the other with his head pointing south."?

6. From Chapter 4, discuss how slave owners brainwashed slaves.

7. According to the Prologue, how was slavery in the United States different than slavery in other countries?

8. Describe the reaction of the anonymous white man who mentions being awakened by the overseer's horn in Chapter 3.

9. In the Epilogue, why does Thomas Hall state that he does not like Lincoln?

10. What was the story of Blackshear and what was the significance?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

The overall feeling slaves had about being enslaved was negative. Most of them did not feel happy in their lifestyles. However, there were some slaves who, in fact, did not mind being a slave. First, discuss the sentiment most slaves had about slavery and why. Were they entitled to these feelings? Then discuss why some slaves were complacent with their situation. Why might they not feel the bitterness or sadness that most other slaves felt? Include in your essay a description of house-servants and how they might tie in with this discussion about slaves' feelings about their lifestyles.

Essay Topic 2

Many years after the Civil War had ended and slaves had been free, the Federal Writer's Project began to interview former slaves and record their experiences and stories. Why did they do this? What was the overall reaction from the black community on this project? Julius Lester, the author of "To Be a Slave" was also a man who did research and compiled several slave accounts. What was his purpose for doing this and did he achieve it? Does reading a true slave narrative change your perception of slavery from before you read it? If so, how? What does reading a true slave narrative accomplish?

Essay Topic 3

Fear is universal. It was a feeling that ruled the slaves and the slave owners used to rule. What is fear? How was fear instilled within the slaves and why did it rule them? What did this fear prevent them from doing and how did it keep them this way? Slave owners themselves also held fears. What were they and how did they attempt to hide it from their slaves? Discuss also how fear and power go hand in hand.

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