Units October 21, 2021
Antebellum, Civil War & Reconstruction: How did slavery shape American society?
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Grades:
This unit was created by Middle School Social Studies Educators in Chapel-Hill Carrboro City Schools, part of the 2021 cohort of The 1619 Project Education Network. It is designed for facilitation across approximately 4 weeks.
Essential Questions
How did slavery shape American Society?
- How did the institution of slavery systematically oppress Black populations in the United States?
- What strategies prior to the Civil War did groups and individuals perform to demonstrate support or disdain for issues like slavery?
- Can violence ever be justified in the past or present when dealing with unjust laws?
- Was the Civil War inevitable?
- What is the legacy of slavery in the 21st Century?
Unit Overview
The Civil War remains one of the most significant events in the history of the state of North Carolina. This conflict pitted North Carolinians against their neighbors and fellow Americans. During this 4 week unit, students trace the causes of the war, including the perpetuation of slavery and the assertion of states’ rights. It is important for students to understand the varied experiences of North Carolinians during this period as well as the disagreements they held about the institution of slavery. Students will explore why some North Carolinians were reluctant to join the Confederacy and the political events that ultimately led the state to secede from the Union.
The unit ends with a research paper focused on the legacy of slavery in the 21st century. Students will utilize resources from The 1619 Project to conduct their research, and will focus on a particular topic or theme to demonstrate the lasting impact of slavery in the United States today.
Performance Task
As a performance task for this unit, students complete a research paper focusing on the legacy of slavery in the 21st century. Students will utilize resources from The 1619 Project as a part of their research, and will focus on a particular topic or theme to demonstrate the lasting impact of slavery in the United States today. Student papers are assessed using a standardized writing rubric.
This unit was created by Middle School Social Studies Educators in Chapel-Hill Carrboro City Schools, part of the 2021 cohort of The 1619 Project Education Network. It is designed for facilitation across approximately 4 weeks.
Unit Resources
North Carolina Social Studies Standards for Grade 8
Behavioral Science Standard 8.B.1 Analyze the impact of group behavior on the development of North Carolina and the nation.
- 8.B.1.1 Determine how the relationship between different regional, social, ethnic, and racial groups have contributed to the development of North Carolina and the nation.
- 8.B.1.2 Explain how cultural values, practices and the interactions of various indigenous, religious, and racial groups have influenced the development of North Carolina and the nation.
Civics & Government Standard 8.C&G.1 Understand how democratic principles have influenced the government structure and policies of North Carolina and the nation.
- 8.C&G.1.5 Compare access to democratic rights and freedoms of various indigenous, religious, racial, gender, ability, and identity groups in North Carolina and the nation.
Civis & Government Standard 8.C&G.2 Evaluate the effectiveness of societal reforms.
- 8. C&G.2.1. Summarize the strategies and societal reforms used to address discrimination and oppression in North Carolina and the nation
Economics Standard 8.E.1 Understand the economic development of North Carolina and the nation.
- 8.E.1.3 Distinguish the role women, indigenous groups, and racial minorities have played in contributing to the economic prosperity of North Carolina in terms of equity, equality, and mobility.
History Standard 8.H.1 Understand the role of conflict and cooperation in the development of North Carolina and the nation.
- 8.H.1.1 Explain the causes and effects of conflict in North Carolina and the nation.
As the cornerstone task for their study, students who experienced this unit in Chapel-Hill Carrboro City Schools in fall 2021 conducted research and wrote papers on the legacies of American slavery in the 21st century. Students selected their topic areas of focus and aligned their research with that topic. Below you will find a few pull quotes from a few student essays and pdfs that allow you to read each essay in full.
On The Legacy of Slavery in American Music
American music holds a strong legacy of slavery because of the music that was stolen by white people and minstrelized. But, even through those injustices and a lack of freedom, Black people never had a lack of spirit or of music or of hope as long as powerful words were passed down from person to person, mother to daughter. Because, even though it may not seem like it, music is and always will be a freedom in itself so long as we allow it to be. My hope is that music will stand strong for the hopeless for years to come just as it did 402 years ago.
From "How The Note Carries," an essay by an Eighth Grade Student in CHCCS schools
On The Economic Legacy of Slavery
These injustices kept Blacks from generating one of the most impactful things today: wealth. It’s important to note the difference between wealth and income; income is the money one earns, such as a salary or “making a living”, while wealth is the extra money, investments, and savings. Wealth is a safety net. Wealth allows career risks, such as going for a new promotion or starting a business, even buying a house. It also allows those with wealth to have an emergency fund that will make sure a disaster doesn’t have as devastating an impact.
From "The Legacy of Slavery and the Racial Wealth Gap," an essay by an Eighth Grade Student in CHCCS schools
On The Legacy of Slavery in Healthcare
This past of repeated abuse has caused some mistrust towards the medical field. One side effect of this mistrust is that African Americans are statistically less likely to participate in clinical trials. This has caused some problems in medicine and has made clinical trials very difficult. If African Americans aren’t represented in clinical trials, the people who make the medicine don’t know what side effects the medicine may have on them. They don’t know whether it will be effective or not. The medical industry repeatedly mistreating African Americans has now affected medicine and clinical trials in the 21st century.
From "Slavery and its Lasting Impact on Healthcare" an essay by an Eighth Grade Student in CHCCS schools
There were many myths about physical racial differences in the past that have impacted healthcare today. These myths were mostly made by racist doctors and slave owners. Myths included that blacks had smaller skulls, smaller brains, thicker skin, weak lungs that could be strengthened from hard work, and that they couldn’t feel pain. The myths may not be as popular today, but they made racial bias in modern day healthcare. Due to these persistent myths, African Americans are more likely to get underestimated in the hospital. These underestimations lead to undertreatment. A few myths have impacted the entire course of history. Crazy, right? Even worse, none of the myths were ever true.
From "The Legacy of Slavery in Healthcare," An essay by an Eighth Grade Student in CHCCS Schools
On The Legacy of Slavery in the Prison System
We can improve our legal system, we can get rid of mandatory minimum sentences and cut back on maximum sentences. We can impose 20 year maximum sentences. We can shift money and resources to preventions and treatment for substance abuse. Put resources into researching ways to promote youth development and help with delinquency in early age. We can address the policies and practices, whether we are aware of them or not, that add to racial inequality. Once we as a nation can come to terms with what's happening the nation can put a stop to it. One step at a time.
From "The Legacy of Slavery in the Justice and Prison System," an essay by an Eighth Grade Student in CHCCS Schools
In conclusion, the lasting legacy of slavery has influenced the modern prison systems greatly. This started when the 13th amendment was created, excluding prisoners from the pledge to abolish slavery in the nation. Then, black codes and strategies used to imprison African Americans were established. The legacy of slavery has resulted in racial bias in the criminal justice systems that we have today. All of this injustice within the 21st century prison systems, leads to the disenfranchisement and dehumanization of the Black communities in the United States.
From "The Enduring Legacy of Slavery in American Prison Systems," an essay by an Eighth Grade Student in CHCCS Schools
What motivates such a heavy bias in our justice system? It is the same motivation that was present during slavery and reconstruction. Money is always the motivation, and cheap labor is always going to be the default operation to achieve financial profit. In 1979 the convict lease program was given a modern title through the Prison Industry Enhancement Certification Program. This program permitted US companies to use prison labor. It is a twofold system. The justice system disproportionately locks up African Americans, and the prisons put them to work.
From "The LEgacy of Slavery in the Prison System" an essay by an Eighth Grade Student in CHCCS Schools