People Not Property: Stories of Slavery in the Colonial North is a rich resource for students of many grade levels.
The website is divided into four broad topics: Defining Slavery traces how white Europeans introduced slavery to the northern colonies and used laws to entrench slavery systematically in the colonies. Being Enslaved explores the lives of enslaved individuals, particularly through family relationships, as well as the knowledge and skills enslaved people possessed. Choosing Resistance considers various courses of action that enslaved people took—individually and collectively—to respond to captivity, as well as the potential consequences. Pursuing Justice traces the gradual ending of slavery and the legacy of slavery today. While these sections build on each other, the website may be viewed in any order. Many interactive features are designed to stand on their own, allowing them to be easily integrated into a classroom lesson. Features include live action videos, animation, questionnaires, annotated primary documents, and storybooks that combine both images and text. Transcripts of all videos are available by request. The TimeMap charts slavery’s rise, growth, and gradual decline in the colonies, and indicates historical milestones. It includes links to the website’s featured content. For students who find some of the historic language challenging, the Glossary defines unfamiliar or archaic words. Get started with the introductory video, Stories of Slavery in the Colonial North.People Not Property: Website Pathways for Teachers
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