Using primary sources, explore the slavery system in the South. Sources include advertisements for slaves, pictures of slave ships, the Supreme Court decision in the Amistad case, spiritual freedoms, journal entries, and pamphlets.

Discover the period some refer to as "Middle Passage," when enslaved Africans were transported across the Atlantic Ocean to the Caribbean or America. Read first-hand accounts of the torture and deprivation experienced by thousands of...

Description and pictures of what was found on the shipwreck, the Henrietta Marie. This ship contained many important objects from the early years of the slave trade.

This site is provided for by PBS. In order to receive insurance money, a captain ordered 132 slaves thrown overboard alive. The case went to court, and a landmark decision was made that the Africans on the ship were actually people.

This article describes how four writers, taken from Africa as children and sold into slavery, grew up to write works that challenged British ideas about race, called for African brotherhood, and demanded the abolition of the slave trade.

A biographical sketch of Joseph Cinque, a leader of the Amistad Revolt. An interesting note is an observation by a phrenologist concerning his determination of Cinque's character by examining his head.

A brief biography of Olaudah Equiano, an African who is famous for writing a narrative of his life as a slave, sailor, writer, Englishman, Christian, and abolitionist. Archived.

The National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) provides background information for the Amistad case, several of the actual documents involved in the case, and teaching activities that correlate the information (at the bottom of...

Get the facts about the life and administraton of Martin Van Buren (1782-1862), the 8th President of the United States (1837-1841).

This highly informative site presents the story of the Amistad and the Mende Africans' legal battle and quest for freedom in Connecticut. Highlights the key players and the places they stayed at and attended.

This website contains pictures and descriptions of the Middle Passage voyage. Click on Teacher's Guide for teacher resources.

From a larger site from PBS' Africans in America, blurb about Olaudah Equiano and his autobiography with a link to text of this historical document.

With the increasing variety in clothes, food, and household items, shopping became an important cultural activity in the 18th century. This article describes buying and selling during this period and explains the connection between many...

A lesson unit on the people and movements that fought to abolish slavery. Looks at the Triangular Trade, and at the Underground Railroad and famous abolitionists. Includes a play about emancipation, a black history rap and a trivia quiz...

The Hanover College History offers several excellent images of Romantic Art. The site provides the year each one was created.

Moving description of the Middle Passage and African American trauma through the perspective of the artist, Tom Feelings.

A great look into the thoughts of Mark Twain and how he feels about certain pieces of art. Tongue-in-cheek, playful and fun. A great link between literature and fine arts for the educator!

From the BBC's documentary series "Simon Schama's Power of Art," find a synopsis of the broadcast on the English master J. M. W. Turner.

This site from the Cornell University School of Law provides a brief description of what happened during the Amistad Revolt and gives details concerning the Supreme Court that followed.

This site from PBS' Africans in America series provides a biography of Olaudah Equiano, one of the many Africans forced to travel the Middle Passage. Links to related entries.

A description of the Middle Passage, the leg of the triangular trade that brought slaves from Africa to America. Read descriptions of the way slaves were transported in the ships across the ocean.

Learn about the ups and downs in Cape Verde's history, first as a Portuguese colony, then as a people seeking independence from Portugal. Information is from the U.S. State Dept. Background Notes.

Post-Civil War home of U.S. congressman Robert Smalls, a former slave who commandeered a Confederate ship out to Union lines.

This site from Ibiblio.org provides a short biography and examples of some of the well-known works of master artist J.M.W. Turner (1775-1851 CE).