Course/Grade Level: 5th Grade
Lesson Title: Do You Want to Be an Indentured Servant or a Slave?
Teacher: Dawn Granath
1. Set Induction: Ask students if they know the difference between a servant and
slave. Ask them to write and compare the two by thinking of what a servant does
and what a slave would do.
2. Aims/Objectives and Standards:
Student will be able to discuss the differences and similarities of a slave and
indentured servant. The objective is the get the students to understand that the
slave never had a chance to work their way out their situation while an indentured
servant knows that after 7 years, they will be let out of their contract and free to
make their own decisions. Also, that white Europeans were considered for
indentured servants, while Africans were seen as slaves
IL.16.A
STANDARD: Apply the skills of historical analysis and interpretation.
IL.18.A Standard: Compare the characteristics of culture as reflected in language,
literature, the arts, traditions and institutions (SS18-A)
3. Procedures, Assessments and Materials Required:
Students will compare letters from indentured servants to slaves and see if there
were differences or if they were the same thing. Give them the definition of an
indentured servant: a person who signs and is bound by indentures (contract) to
work for another for a specified time especially in return for payment of travel
expenses and maintenance.
Slave: one that is completely subservient to a dominating influence
Also, review the pictures in the powerpoint presentation. Show the students visual
representations of slaves and indentured servents.
Discuss the fact that historians are not sure if the first Africans came over as
indentured servants or as slaves. There are four letters, two from indentured
slaves, two from slaves. As a class, fill in one document analysis sheet for any of
the letters. Put the students into groups, and their assignment is to fill in one
document analysis sheet for any of the three remaining letters.
These are the webpages of letters that I used. I cut and pasted some to help keep
them shorter and to take some things out. I also added some words to help with the
vocabulary. The added words are in parenthesis. See attached word document.
Indentured Servants
Elizabeth Ashbridge arrived in America in 1732 as a nineteen-year-old indentured servant, a “Stranger in a Strange Land”.
In two Weeks time I was Sold, & Were it Possible to Convey (tell) in Characters a sense of the
Sufferings of my Servitude, it would make the most strong heart pity (sad) the Misfortunes of a
young creature as I was, who had a Tender Education; for tho’(though) my Father had no great
Estate, yet he lived well. I had been used to Little but my School, but now it had been better for
me if I had been brought up to more hardship. For a While at first I was Pretty well used, but in a
Little time the Scale turned. Occasioned by a Difference (argument) that happened between my
Master & me,4 wherein I was Innocent: from that time he set himself against me and was
Inhuman. He would not suffer [allow] me to have Clothes to be Decent in, having to go barefoot
in his Service in the Snowey Weather & the Meanest drudgery (difficult tasks), wherein I
Suffered the Utmost Hardship that my Body was able to Bear, which, with the afforesaid
Troubles, had like to have been my Ruin to all Eternity had not Almighty God in Mercy
interposed. . . .
“I Suffered the Utmost Hardship that my Body was able to Bear”
http://nationalhumanitiescenter.org/pds/becomingamer/growth/text5/ashbridge.pdf
My Master employed me in the Business: I continued (was) satisfied with him for
sometime; but being desirous to settle (live) at Philadelphia, during the rest of my
servitude, I declared (said) to him, I would stay no longer, and desired (asked) him to
dispose (get rid) of me to some other Master, and insisted upon it, agreeably to the
Tenour (rest) of my Indenture. This Demand made him cross (mad) to me, and I
attempted an Escape, but was taken, and put into Prison; but was soon released, with a
promise to satisfy my Demand (servitude). …so I returned back to Burlington, and
continued with him three Years, he forgiving me the other Two: I was ever after perfectly
pleased with my Master’s Behaviour to me, which was generous.
Source: William Moraley, The Infortunate: or, the Voyage and Adventures of William
Moraley. Written by Himself. Newcastle, England, 1743; reprint, Chester, PA: The
Delaware County Republican, 1884.
http://historymatters.gmu.edu/d/6229
Slave letters
Some Memoirs of the Life of Job, the Son of Solomon, the High Priest of Boonda in Africa . . .
compiled by Thomas Bluett, 1734, EXCERPTS
Mr. Vachell Denton sold JOB to one Mr. Tolsey in Kent Island in Maryland, who put him to work
in making Tobacco; but he was soon convinced that JOB had never been used to such Labour. He
every Day showed more and more Uneasiness under this Exercise and at last grew sick, being no
way able to bear it; so that his Master was obliged to find easier Work for him and therefore put
him to tend the Cattle. JOB would often leave the Cattle and withdraw into the Woods to pray;
but a white Boy frequently watched him, and whilst(while) he was at his Devotion (prayer) would
mock him and throw Dirt in his Face. This very much disturbed JOB and added to his other
Misfortunes(problems), all which were increased by his Ignorance(lack of knowledge) of the
English Language, which prevented his complaining or telling his Case to any Person about
(around) him.
To Redeem My Family”: Venture Smith Frees Himself and his Family
Published in 1798, A Narrative of the Life and Adventures of Venture, a Native of Africa:
But Resident above Sixty Years in the United States of America, Related by Himself
The vessel then sailed for Rhode-Island, and arrived there after a comfortable passage.
Here my master sent me to live with one of his sisters, until he could carry me to Fisher’s
Island, the place of his residence. I had then completed my eighth year. After staying with
his sister some time I was taken to my master’s place to live....
The first of the time of living at my master’s own place, I was pretty much employed in
the house at carding wool and other household business. In this situation I continued for
some years, after which my master put me to work out of doors. After many proofs of my
faithfulness and honesty, my master began to put great confidence in me. My behavior to
him had as yet been submissive and obedient. I then began to have hard tasks imposed on
me. Some of these were to pound four bushels of ears of corn every night in a barrel for
the poultry, or be rigorously punished. At other seasons of the year I had to card wool
until a very late hour. These tasks I had to perform when I was about nine years old.
Some time after I had another difficulty and oppression which was greater than any I had
ever experienced since I came into this country. This was to serve two masters. James
Mumford, my master’s son, when his father had gone from home in the morning, and
given me a stint to perform that day, would order me to do this and that business different
from what my master directed me.
http://historymatters.gmu.edu/d/6536
4. Resources and Scholarship:
http://nationalhumanitiescenter.org/pds/becomingamer/growth/text5/ashbridge.pdf
http://historymatters.gmu.edu/d/6229
To Redeem My Family”: Venture Smith Frees Himself and his Family
Published in 1798, A Narrative of the Life and Adventures of Venture, a Native of Africa:
But Resident above Sixty Years in the United States of America, Related by Himself
http://historymatters.gmu.edu/d/6536
Document analysis sheet
Powerpoint presentation
5. Conclusion/Lesson Wrap-up:
Students will come back together as a group and discuss the differences and
similarities of an indentured servant and a slave. They will write a paragraph
telling these differences.
6. Language Arts and Math Articulation (for 5th grade teachers only):
Students will read the letters. Students will create a venn diagram comparing
indentured servants and slaves. Students will write a paragraph describing the
differences and similiarities.
Indentured Servant Letter 1
Elizabeth Ashbridge arrived in America in 1732 as a
nineteen-year-old indentured servant, a “Stranger in a
Strange Land”.
In two Weeks time I was Sold, & Were it Possible to
Convey (tell) in Characters a sense of the Sufferings of
my Servitude, it would make the most strong heart pity
(sad) the Misfortunes of a young creature as I was, who
had a Tender Education; for tho’(though) my Father had
no great Estate, yet he lived well. I had been used to Little
but my School, but now it had been better for me if I had
been brought up to more hardship. For a While at first I
was Pretty well used, but in a Little time the Scale turned.
Occasioned by a Difference (argument) that happened
between my Master & me,4 wherein I was Innocent: from
that time he set himself against me and was Inhuman. He
would not suffer [allow] me to have Clothes to be Decent
in, having to go barefoot in his Service in the Snowey
Weather & the Meanest drudgery (difficult tasks),
wherein I Suffered the Utmost Hardship that my Body
was able to Bear, which, with the afforesaid Troubles, had
like to have been my Ruin to all Eternity had not
Almighty God in Mercy interposed. . . .
“I Suffered the Utmost Hardship that my Body was able to
Bear”
Indentured Servant Letter 2
My Master employed me in the Business: I
continued (was) satisfied with him for sometime; but
being desirous to settle (live) at Philadelphia, during
the rest of my servitude, I declared (said) to him, I
would stay no longer, and desired (asked) him to
dispose (get rid) of me to some other Master, and
insisted upon it, agreeably to the Tenour (rest) of my
Indenture. This Demand made him cross (mad) to
me, and I attempted an Escape, but was taken, and
put into Prison; but was soon released, with a
promise to satisfy my Demand (servitude). …so I
returned back to Burlington, and continued with him
three Years, he forgiving me the other Two: I was
ever after perfectly pleased with my Master’s
Behaviour to me, which was generous.
Source: William Moraley, The Infortunate: or, the
Voyage and Adventures of William Moraley.
Written by Himself. Newcastle, England, 1743;
reprint, Chester, PA: The Delaware County
Republican, 1884.
Slave letter 1
Some Memoirs of the Life of Job, the Son of Solomon, the
High Priest of Boonda in Africa . . .
compiled by Thomas Bluett, 1734, EXCERPTS
Mr. Vachell Denton sold JOB to one Mr. Tolsey in Kent
Island in Maryland, who put him to work in making
Tobacco; but he was soon convinced that JOB had never
been used to such Labour. He every Day showed more
and more Uneasiness under this Exercise and at last grew
sick, being no way able to bear it; so that his Master was
obliged to find easier Work for him and therefore put him
to tend the Cattle. JOB would often leave the Cattle and
withdraw into the Woods to pray; but a white Boy
frequently watched him, and whilst(while) he was at his
Devotion (prayer) would mock him and throw Dirt in his
Face. This very much disturbed JOB and added to his
other Misfortunes(problems), all which were increased by
his Ignorance(lack of knowledge) of the English
Language, which prevented his complaining or telling his
Case to any Person about (around) him.
Slave letter 2
To Redeem My Family: Venture Smith Frees Himself and his
Family
Published in 1798, A Narrative of the Life and Adventures of
Venture, a Native of Africa: But Resident above Sixty Years in
the United States of America, Related by Himself
The vessel then sailed for Rhode-Island, and arrived there after a
comfortable passage. Here my master sent me to live with one of
his sisters, until he could carry me to Fisher’s Island, the place
of his residence. I had then completed my eighth year. After
staying with his sister some time I was taken to my master’s
place to live....
The first of the time of living at my master’s own place, I was
pretty much employed in the house at carding wool and other
household business. In this situation I continued for some years,
after which my master put me to work out of doors. After many
proofs of my faithfulness and honesty, my master began to put
great confidence in me. My behavior to him had as yet been
submissive and obedient. I then began to have hard tasks
imposed on me. Some of these were to pound four bushels of
ears of corn every night in a barrel for the poultry, or be
rigorously punished. At other seasons of the year I had to card
wool until a very late hour. These tasks I had to perform when I
was about nine years old. Some time after I had another
difficulty and oppression which was greater than any I had ever
experienced since I came into this country. This was to serve
two masters. James Mumford, my master’s son, when his father
had gone from home in the morning, and given me a stint to
perform that day, would order me to do this and that business
different from what my master directed me.
Document Analysis Sheet
Title of the Document
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Date of the Document
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Author of the Document
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What important facts can be learned from this document?
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What inferences can you make from this document?
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