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Summary and Objective
The goal of this two day activity is for students to examine the historical background for the Fugitive Slave Law and other slavery issues. The students will understand that these issues inspired people to speak out and try to bring about change.They will also understand that these same issues led Harriet Beecher Stowe to write "Uncle Tom's Cabin," a book that led many people to work for changes in the legal status of slavery.
Teaching Plan
Step 1.
Students will read or have read to them, the label for the Greenfield Gazette and Courier article, "News Items." They will share three reasons they found why the author of the label felt the Fugitive Slave Law was unjust and describe the purpose of the petition. They will also discuss whether or not the number of towns involved and the number of citizens who signed were significant for that time.
Step 2.
Students will read the synopsis of "Uncle Tom's Cabin" on the Wikipedia site in order to gain a general idea of the story line. They will write a two paragraph summary.
Step 3.
On the second day,the class will read pages 3 and 4 from the selection, "Excerpts from 'A Key to Uncle Tom's Cabin Presenting the Original Facts and Documents Upon Which the Story is Founded.'" The class will then discuss their opinions of Harriet Beecher Stowe's goals for the book.
Step 4.
In order to understand the impact Stowe's novel had on the public at the time of its publication, the class will read the bottom of page three and page four of "The Letter From Teacher Mary Montague" and discuss why Ms. Montague was so taken by "Uncle Tom's Cabin." They will also choose a book they have read in the last year that moved them in a similar way and write one paragraph explaining why.
Step 5.
Post Activity #1-Each student will develop a list of four books they know that have addressed social issues and tried to present moral solutions to social problems.
Step 6.
Post Activity #2-Students will write a story outline similar to the one from Wikipedia for "Uncle Tom's Cabin." Their story should involve a social problem in today's world and try to move other students to action in the same way Stowe's story was intended to change the Fugitive Slave Law.
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