African AmericansLesson starter

Immigrants to the USA were foolish to believe they could all achieve the American Dream.

Do you agree with the above statement? Provide reasons for your answer

Today we will…• Understand why African Americans

were different from other immigrants• Understand how they arrived in

America

• African Americans were different from other immigrants such as Italians

• They did not choose to go to America but were taken there as slaves against their will

• They mainly lived a life of captivity

• They had little chance of achieving the American Dream

The Triangle of Trade1. Goods left ports such

as Liverpool to be sold in Africa (things such as pots, pans, guns etc)

2. People in African countries exchanged slaves for these items. Slaves were taken to America.

3. Slaves sold at auction in exchange for goods such as cotton. Cotton taken back to Europe.

• African slaves were mainly used in the Southern states

• They often worked on cotton or tobacco plantations

• There were field slaves/ house servants

• Slaves were treated as animals, locked up and beaten

• Although those in the North were still racist, they largely agreed slavery was wrong

Roots• Roots is a drama

series documenting the lives of African Slaves in the South

• Take notes on the treatment of the slaves as you watch