Abolition
legal act of slavery
Aboltionist
anti-slavery
Primary Source
original firsthand "eye witness" of an event
Secondary Source
document that describes an event
Why is Frederick no sure when he was born?
so they would stay ignorant and they weren't allowed to ask questions.
Why would slaveholders want to keep a slave ignorant of such a simple things as the date of his birth?
if slaves weren't ignorant they weren't slaves and they'd want to know more.
Who was Frederick's father?
His first master "Captain Anthony"
Why does Frederick make the point that a slaveholder who has fathered a child is likely to be tougher on that child?
His wife would be mad for treating them better than his kids and he doesn't want to look weak.
Why does Frederick only rarely see his mother?
She was sent to a different plantation after Frederick was about 12 months.
Is Frederick's relationship with his mother typical of other slave children?
Yes, mothers would get sent to a different plantation after the baby was a couple of months. The babies would be watched over by an elderly woman slave who couldn't work.
What is the role of the overseer on the plantation?
To watch over slaves and make them work.
Why does Frederick say he will never reveal his deepest feelings?
They were so horrible he wasn't able to put them into words.
What event changed Frederick's view of the world?
Watching his Aunt Hestor get whipped.
Who were the family members of Frederick's master, colonel Edward Lloyd?
Lucretia Auld (daughter) married to Thomas Auld, Andrew Lloyd, and Richard Lloyd.
Why was Severe an appropriate name for the overseer?
He was cruel, strict, and SEVERE to slaves.
Why does Frederick suggest that slaves sing out of sorrow rather than out of joy?
They didn't have anything to sing happily about.
How did Colonel Lloyd keep the slave boys from taking his fruit?
He put tar on the fence. Even if you got tar on you clothing accidentally you still got beat, so eventually they became scared of the fence.
Why was it particularly difficult to be the slaves in charge of Colonel Lloyd's Horses?
Whatever you did was wrong and you'd still get beat.
What is ironic about Colonel Lloyd's treatment of his horses compared to the treatment of his slaves?
He treated slaves like animals and the horse's highly as person should be treated.
What happened to the slave who told Colonel Lloyd the truth about his master?
He got turned over and sold into Georgia Traders. The chances were that you would be sold deeper south and get treated more cruel.
Why is Mr. Austin Gore a "first-rate overseer"? What is the irony of this description of him? What is ironic about his name?
He's strict and cruel, a horrible human being, and he's a gory person making slaves bleed constantly.
What reason does Mr. Gore give for killing Demby, the slave?
He was insubordinate and they were scared he'd influence other slaves to stick up for themselves.
What other examples does Frederick give on his statement "that killing a slave, or any colored person...is not treated as a crime, either by the courts or the community"?
Thomas shot a slave cause he stepped over the line for food, Mr. Thomas Lanman killed 2 slaves (one with a hatchet), also Mr. Giles Hick mangled a 15-16 yr. old girl
What was life like for Frederick on the plantation?
He didn't have to work becuase he was to young so it was good for a slave.
Why was Frederick so happy to be leaving the plantation?
He got to bathe.
Why did he want to go to Baltimore?
He got a pair of trousers.
What were Frederick's initial impressions of his new mistress, Mrs. Sophia Auld?
She was kind, allowed to answer her, and to look her in the eyes.
To what does Frederick attribute the kindness of Mrs. Auld?
She's never had a slave.
What, according to Frederick, changes her?
Power
Why is Mr. Auld angry when he finds that Mrs. Auld is teaching Frederick his letters?
b/c if blacks learn, they'll become unmanageable.
Why does the inability to read keep men enslaved according to Frederick and to Mr. Auld?
b/c if you teach them, they'll be unfit to be a slave, doesn't benefit the owner, and slaves will want to know more.
What does Frederick hope to gain by learning how to read?
Freedom
Who teaches Frederick why black men are not taught to read?
Mr. Auld
Why is this lesson so important to him?
b/c he realizes that education & knowledge can get him to freedom.
Why is the life of a city slave so much better than the life of a plantation slave?
City slaves have more freedom, clothes, food, and don't have to do hard labor on a plantation.
How did Mrs. Auld change and why did she change?
She stopped teaching FD and she became more mean.
What plan did Frederick adopt to learn how to read now that Mrs. Hugh was no longer teaching him?
He befriended white boys & gave them bread for lessons in reading.
What did Frederick learn from the book, The Columbian Orator?
That people fought against slavery; he learned how cruel white people are; he learned about slavery and freedom.
How does Master Auld's prediction about Frederick and learning come true?
Learning more caused FD to want freedom more and more.
What do the two Irishmen encourage him to do?
Run up North, feared they were treacherous faithless/deceptive & would use him.
How does he trick the white boys into teaching him new letters?
He would say "I don't believe you. Let me see it." He'd watch them write and would copy it.
Why was Frederick forced to return to the plantation after the death of his master?
His master died.
How was the value of the master's property determined? How were the slaves valued?
Slaves were ranked in value w/ animals (horses, sheep & swine).
Why was the division of property between Mistress Lucretia and Master Andrew so horrifying to the slaves?
Dreaded Master Andrew (cruel)
Who owns Frederick by the end of chapter eight?
Master Thomas Auld, Lucretia die.
Why is Frederick forced to leave Baltimore?
b/c of an argument & Master Thomas said he'd never let FD return to Baltimore.
Why does Frederick now know the date?
He knows how to read now.
Who is Frederick's new master?
Master Thomas Auld
What rule of slaveholding does Master Thomas Auld violate?
Didn't give slaves enough food.
How did the slaves get food?
Stole food from neighbors and begged.
What, according to Frederick, happens to Master Thomas Auld after his conversion to Christianity? Why?
Be became more cruel, religion supported his slave holding.
Why does Frederick find irony in the fact that the slaves' Sabbath school is discontinued?
b/c slaves were supposed to learn b/ the class leaders didn't want to teach slaves to read the New Testament.
