What was the Fugitive Slave Act?
Vocabulary:
- abolitionist (n) - someone working to end slavery
- commemorate (v) - to remember and honor
- fugitive slave (n) - a slave who escaped from his or her owner
- Fugitive Slave Act (n) - a law that allowed “slave-catchers” to capture black Americans who escaped to the north and force them back into slavery in the south
- speaking circuit (n) - an established schedule of events for a particular activity
- movement (n) - a campaign undertaken by a group of people working together
- disclose (v) - to reveal
- exploit (n) - an exciting act or action
- whereas (conj) - used to make a statement that describes how two people or groups, etc., are different
- circumstances (n) - a condition or fact that affects a situation
- appreciate (v) - to admire and value something or someone
- abolitionist (n) - a person who favored the elimination of slavery
- commemorate (v) - to remember and honor
- harrowing (adj) - extremely disturbing or distressing
- lauded (v) - praised
- obscurity (n) - being unknown
- temperance movement (n) - a political organization that wants to ban the sale and use of alcohol
1. Why was there controversy over whether Brown’s story should be told publicly?
2. Why was Brown eventually rejected by most abolitionists?
3. The story references both abolitionists and “anti-slavery” Americans. Can you distinguish between these two groups?
4. What were the speakers’ attitudes about Henry “Box” Brown?
5. What do you find most interesting about Henry Brown’s story?
6. What do you think would have happened to Brown if he had not been a slave?
3. Finish "12 Years a Slave"
