Aranda 1

FernandaAranda
Ms.Figueroa
WorldLiteratureBlockB
April11,2014
Slavery
12YearsaSlave
BySolomonNorthup
Summary:
12YearsaSlavebySolomonNorthupisatruestoryaboutafreeAfricanAmericanman
whowascapturedintoslavery.SolomonwasbornafreemaninNewYorkandlateronmarried
AnneHampton.TheyhadthreekidsnamedElizabeth,Margaret,andAlonzo.InMarch1841,
SolomonreceivedanopportunityfromtwomennamedMerrillBrownandAbramHamiltonto
goandworkwiththemforawhilebyplayingtheviolin.Solomontookthejobandbeganto
travelintoaslavestate,Virginia.OnenightSolomonhadacoupleofdrinksandwokeup
handcuffedinadarkroom.Hesoonfoundoutthathehadbeenkidnappedandwouldbesent
intoslaveryintheSouth.
Solomon,nowknownasPlatt,wastakenintoaslaveauctioninNewOrleans.Oncethere
hesawhowmanyfamiliesweretornapartfromeachother.AmannamedWilliamFordknown
asakind,noble,candid,ChristianmanboughtSolomon(Northup57).Afteracoupleofweeks
FordsoldSolomontoastingymannamedTibeats.TibeatsdidnotlikeSolomonatallandhe
wasneversatisfiedfortheworkSolomondid(Northup68).OnedayTibeatswenttosee
Solomonworkandsawthatthenailshewasusingwerethewrongsize.Tibeatsstartedtoget
upsetandwenttogethiswhip.ItwasnotSolomonsfaultthattheyhadgivenhimthosenails,
howeverTibeatsreturnedandcommandedSolomontostriphisclothes,butherefused.Tibeats
triedtowhiphimbutSolomonfoughtbackandsoonTibeatsbecameavictimofSolomons
power(Northup71).Tibeatsscreamshadbeenheardinthefieldsandtheoverseer
approachedtoseewhathadhappened(Northup71).SolomonthenexplainedhowTibeats
wantedtobeathimforhavingthewrongnailsthatChapinhadgivenhim.Chapinsaidthatitwas
hisfaultandaskedTibeatstoleaveSolomonalonebecauseSolomonwasnothisfullproperty
yet.TibeatshadmanyopportunitiestokillSolomonbutsomehowSolomonalwaysgotsaved.
SinceTibeatswantedtokillSolomon,hesoldhimtoamannamedEdwinEpps.Epps
wasasilentmanwhenhewassoberbutwhenhewasdrunkitwasdifferentstory.Hewould
suddenlywakeupallhisslaves,bringthemtohouse,andmakethemdancewhileSolomonand
otherslaveswouldplayaninstrument.EdwinEppsownedacottonplantationinwhicheach
slavewassupposedtohavepickedatleasttentotwentypoundsperday.Iftheydidnotpick
enoughcottontheconsequencewouldresultinawhipping.OneslavenamedPatseywasknown
asthemostremarkablecottonpickeronBayouBoeufbecauseshepickeduptwiceasmuchas

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everyone(Northup109).Mrs.EppsdidnotlikePatseyatallbecausesheknewthatMr.Epps
wasinvolvedwithPatsy,eventhoughitwasnotPatseyschoice.
Solomonshopeofbecomingafreemanwereoneinamillion,untilonedaywhenhe
metaCanadiancarpenternamedMr.Bass.Basswasagainstslaveryandtreatedtheslaves
equally.SolomontooktheopportunitytotalktoBasswheneverEppswasntaround.SoonBass
becameinterestedinSolomonsstoryanddecidedtomeethimlateronthatnight.AfterBass
heardhiswholestoryhereallywantedtohelpSolomonbecomeafreemanandreunitewithhis
family.Solomonthenaskedhimtodohimafavor,mailingalettertooneofhisfriendsthat
wouldresultinhisfreedom.Bassagreedtodoitknowinghislifewasindanger.Afteracouple
ofmonthsasheriffarrivedtoEppshouseandcalledoutsaying,Wherestheboytheycall
Platt?(Northup202).Solomonrespondedbyansweringthatthatwashisname.Thenhe
suddenlynoticedamanfromadistanceandthesheriffaskedhimifheknewtheman.Filled
withjoySolomonsaidHenryB.Northup!ThankGodthankGod!(Northup202).Thesheriff
askedhimmanyquestionsabouthiskidsandwifebeforelettinghimwalktowardsHenry.
SolomonansweredthequestionssoquicklyandsoonbegantoruntowardsHenrywithopen
arms.Eppscomesoutaskingwhatwasgoingonwithhisslave.Thesheriffthenexplained
everythingtohimwhileSolomonsaidgoodbyetoeveryone.AstheyleftSolomonlookedback
towardsthehouseandknewthathistroubleswereover.In1853Solomonreturnedhomeand
wasreunitedwithhisfamily.

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Review:
Afterreading12yearsaSlave,Iwouldsayitisaninspiringandamazingbook.Itis
inspiringbecausehehadsomuchhopethathewouldgobacktohisfamilyandtriedtotake
everyopportunitytogethelp.Therewereseveralopportunitiestoescape,however,hedidnt
takethembecauseheknewhewasbeingwatchedandifhegotcaughthewouldalreadyhavea
backupplan.Oneopportunitywaswhenawhiteman,Armsby,wasworkinginBayouBoeuf
andSolomonaskedhimtomailalettertooneofhisfriendsinexchangeofmoney.Armsby
acceptedandtookthemoney.HelaterontoldhismasterMr.Epps.Mr.EppswokeupSolomon
inthemiddleofthenightforanexplanation.Solomonresponded
AllIvegottosay,masteris,thereisnotruthinit.HowcouldIwritealetterwithout
anyinkorpaper?Thereisnobodytowriteto,causeIhaintgotnofriendslivingasI
knowof.ThatArmsbyisalying,drunkenfellow,theysay,andnobodybelieveshim
anyways.YouknowIalwaystellthetruth,andthatInevergoofftheplantationwithout
apass.Now,master,IcanseewhatthatArmsbyisafter,plainenough.Didnthewant
youtohirehimforanoverseer?(Northupp154).
Mr.Eppsrespondedyesandwasimpressedwiththeanswer.
Eventhoughheknewhewasafreeman,itdidntmeanhewouldsitarounddoing
nothing.Hewouldworkandgiveithisallintohiswork.Thatinspiredmetothink,whenyouare
intheworstsituation;allyoucandoismakethebestofit.Thebookwasamazingbecausehe
survivedalmostgettingkilledbyTibeatsmorethenonceandseemedtosaveotherlivesaswell.
Thebookwasamazingbecauseafterallthoseyearsofpainandtortureheendedupbeingwith
hisfamily.OnethingthatIlikedaboutthebookwasthattherewassomuchdetailthatIcould
pictureit.Forexamplewhenhefirstgetsbeatenhesays,Ropeswerethenbrought,andthe
nakedgirlwaslaiduponherface,herwristsandfeeteachtiedfirmlytoastake(Northup170).
AnotherthingIdidntlikeaboutthebookwasthebeginning.WhenIwasreadingthefirst
chapterIwassobored.Itkeptgoingonabouthislifebeforehewascapturedasaslave.Ithinkif
hewouldhaveshorteneditalittleIwouldhavebeenmoreengaged.AfterreadingmybookIfelt
verydevastatedbecausethethoughtofhowpeopleusedtotreatslavesorevenhavingslaves
mademesosad.ThisbookmademefeelverygratefulthatIwasbornfree.

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Questions:
1. Whatisit?
Slaveryreferstoaconditioninwhichindividualsareownedbyothers,whocontrol
wheretheylive(WhatisSlaverypar1).Asslavestheyhavetodowhatevertheir
mastersaystodowhentheysayit.SlavesweremostlyAfricansandstartedaround1500
thenincreasedintotheAmericain1651.Therearemanywaysyoubecameaslave.One
ofthemisbeingsoldintoslavery.Beingsoldintoslaveryisyourparentsellingyoutoa
slavetrader.Themajoritywerebornslavesbecausethemotherhadthebabywhenshe
wasaslave.Thelastwaytobecomeaslavewaskidnappingorcaptured.Theywouldbe
capturedinwarsorkidnappedinisolatedraids(Peoplebecomeslavespar1).Slaves
wereusuallyboughtfromslavetradersandrichmen.Lightskinnedwomenwere
usuallysoldforprostitutionortobemistressestotheirmasters(SlaveryinAmerica).
Mostfamilieswouldbetornapartandknewtheywouldneverseeeachotheragain.Ifa
masterwasfoundmurderedallhisslavesweretobeexecuted.
2. Whatisitknownfor?
Slaveryisknownfortheviolenceandhowtheyweretreated.Theslaveholderswould
punishtheirslavesfordisobedience,talkingback,andmostofthetimetoshowthe
slavestheirpoweragainstthem.Slaveholderspunishedtheirslavesthroughwhipping,
shackling,hanging,beating,burning,mutilation,branding,andimprisonment
(TreatmentofSlavespar4).Slaveswouldbepunishedwithabeatingwithapaddle,
knives,guns,awhipandmore.Someslaveholderswouldbeatthemsobadthat
sometimesthepaddlewouldbreak.Someslaveholderswouldbeatthemsobadwiththe
whipthatthelashwouldbewetwithbloodandstilltheywillcontinueuntiltheywere
satisfied(Northup171).Pregnantwomenreceivedthemosthorrendouslashings;slave
masterscameupwithuniquewaystolashthemsothattheycouldbeatthemother
withoutharmingthebaby(Treatmentofslavespar4).
3. Whatisitshistory?(Briefbackground)
Slaverystartedin1619,inVirginiawhenapproximately20captiveAfricansaresold
intoslaveryintheBritishNorthAmericancolonies(TimeandPlace,1619).In1641
MassachusettsisthefirstcolonytolegalizeslaveryandfollowingwasMarylandand
Carolinas(TimeanPlace,1641).ThentheFirstFugitiveSlaveLawwaspassedwhich
meantifaslaveescapeyoucouldgoafterthemandgetthembackbecausehtisstillyour
property.Oneslave,GabrielProsser,didntwanttolivealifeasaslaveandsohetiredto
getslavestofightback.Hisplanwasawasteandgotcaughtandalloftheslavesthat
wereintheplangothangedwithProsseraswell.Laterin1850,Californiaisadmittedas

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afreestate,UtahandNewMexicoterritoriesarelefttobedecidedbypopular
sovereignty(HistoryinAmerica1850).Intheyear1860,AbrahamLincolnbecame
thePresidentoftheUnitedStates.(Bomboy,par1).Lincolnpersonallydidntapproveof
slaveryandsaid,Ifslaverywerenotwrongthennothingwaswrong.Hedecidesto
presenttheEmancipationProclamationbuthissecretary,WilliamSeward,suggestedto
waituntilthetimewasbetterbecauseitwilllooklikeanactofdesperation(The
EmancipationProclamation).LincolnwaitedandOnJanuary11863Lincolnpresented
theEmancipationProclamation.Theproclamationdeclared,"allpersonsheldasslaves
withinanyStates,ordesignatedpartoftheState,thepeoplewhereofshallbeinrebellion
againsttheUnitedStates,shallbethen,thenceforward,andforeverfree(Emancipation
Proclamation,1863par2)
4. Whatcultureisassociatedwithit?
SlavesweremostlyassociatedwithAfricans.Slaveswerenotallowedtoeducate
themselves.Theywereonlyallowedtoworkbecausetheythoughttheywerentsmart
enough.Becausetheycouldnteducatethemselves,slavesadoptedastrongoral
traditionpassingdownsongs,prayers,laments,andstoriesthroughmusicand
storytelling(SlaveCulturepar1).Whenslaveshadadaysoff,likeonSundaysor
holidays,theywouldallgatheraroundsinginganddancingwhilesomeslavesplayed
theirinstruments.ManyAfricansthatplayedaninstrumentwouldusuallycrafttheir
instrument.Forslaves,musicanddanceheldbothsecularandspiritualmeaning,and
talentedblackmusiciansandsingerswerepraisedbywhitesaswellasotherblacks.
Throughsinging,callandresponse,andholleringslaveswouldcommunicatewitheach
otheracrossthefield(SambolTosco,par4).
5. Whatgroupisassociatedwithit?
Onegroupthatisassociatedwithslaveryisabolitionists.Abolitionistsarepeoplewhoare
tryingtogetridofslavery.Abolitionistsbelievedthatslaverywasanationalsin,and
thatitwasthemoralobligationofeveryAmericantohelperadicateitfromtheAmerican
landscapebygraduallyfreeingtheslavesandreturningthemtoAfrica(Iwillbe
Heardpar1).Americansledabolitionistsinthe1830s.MostAmericansdidntapprove
ofabolitionism.Afterawhileantislaverybecameknownandsupportedbymany
differentpeople.Thepublicwantedtheendofslaveryandwenowjoiningabolitionists.
(IwillbeHeardpar2).
6. Whatarethepractices/traditionsofthegroupassociatedwithit?
Notalotofpeopleknewabouttheabolitionagainstslaverybutthepeoplewhodidknow
campaignedagainstit,facedabuseandoccasionallyevenviolence.Theyeventually
formedafellowshiptoabolishthetrade(TheAbolitionistspar2).
InBritain,theabolitionmovementgainedinstrength,despitesetbacksandopposition
fromthosewhoweremakingagreatdealofmoneyfromthetrade(TheAbolitionists
par4).AbolitionisthelpedsomeslavesescapebyhelpingthemgotoCanadathroughthe
UndergroundRailroadandotherswouldhelpbytellingpeopletheirstruggles.(What
didtheabolitionistsdo?par1).In1860,theelectionofproabolitioncongressmenledto

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thesecessionoftheSouthernslavestatestoformtheConfederacy,leadingtotheCivil
War.(Whatdidtheabolitionistsdo?par1).
7. Isitassociatedwithareligion,philosophy,beliefsystemorotherdevotion?
ManySlavesareassociatedwithreligion.NotallslaveswereChristian,norwereall
thosewhoacceptedChristianitymembersofachurch,butthedoctrines,symbols,and
visionoflifepreachedbyChristianitywerefamiliartomost(Raboteau,par1).Other
AfricanAmericassharedabeliefinaSupremeCreator,achiefdeityamonglessergods,
towhomtheyprayedandmadesacrifices(SambolTosco,par1).Slaveswouldcounton
theirreligionbecausetheyhadnothingelseandwantedcomfort.Someslavesowners
weregenerousandgaveoutcornormilkontheSabbathday,somethingthattheydont
geteveryday(Northup,110111).Slavescarriedreligioussymbolswiththemtotake
awaybadsprits(SambolTosco,par3).Theslaveownershadaphilosophyoftheirown.
Someslaveownerstreatedtheslavesveryharshbecausetheythoughtthattheslaves
wereworthless,stupid,andproperty.Slavesownershadthoughtthatblackswerebornto
beslavesandnottohavealife.
8. Whatimpacthasithadontheworld?
Slaveryledtothecivilwar,alsoknownastheWarBetweentheStatesbecausethe
southwantedtosecedefromtherestofthecountrysincetheylovedslavery.(American
CivilWarpar1).Whileinthenorth,theybelievedslaverywaswrongandillegal.The
twosideswenttowaronApril12,1861whenConfederatewarshipsbombardedUnion
soldiersatFortSumter,SouthCarolina(CivilWarFactspar1).Theslaveswerefree
buttheywerestillseenasslavesandtreatedhorribly.Manypeopletothisdaydonttreat
theblacksequally.Slaveryhasbuiltyearsofsegregationbetweenitspeople,thattime
alonewillneverheal(Gardner,par6)
9. Howwouldyoufeelifyouwereinvolved?Why?
IfIwasinvolvedinslaveryIwouldhavebeendevastatedbecauseIamsousetolivingin
aworldoffreedom.Tobetakenawayfrommyfamilyandforcedtodowhatevermy
mastersayswouldbehorriblebecauseitwouldmakemefeelworthless.Thepainthat
theywentthrougheverydayforthemostfoolishthingsistragic.Iwouldneverwantto
betreateddifferentlybecauseofmyskincolor.OnethingthatIwouldmisswouldbethe
feelingofsafety.Slaveswouldbeterrifiedofeachdaybecausetheyareafraidofdying
orbeingmistreatedfornoreason.Ithinkthatlivingalifewhereyouareforcedtowork,
havenoprivacy,andnotgetpaidisalifethatIwouldneverwanttolive.Nooneshould
everbetreatedworthlessbecauseweareallequal.

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http://www.history.com/topics/americancivilwar/emancipationproclamation

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