Primary Source Documents

Lesson Plan on Race in America

African Migration to America

Document 1

Edward Long, British aristocrat, historian, and explorer, Candid reflections upon the judgement lately awarded by the Court of King's Bench in Westminster-Hall on what is commonly called the Negroe-cause, 1772

As our trade esteemed Negroe labourers merely a commodity, or chose in merchandize, so the parliament of Great Britain has uniformly adhered to the same idea.... [Planters have always] deemed their Negroes to be fit objects of purchase and sale, transferrable like any other goods or chattels: they conceived their right of property to have and to hold, acquired by purchase, inheritance, or grant, to be as strong, just, legal, indefeasible, and compleat, as that of any other British merchant over the goods in his warehouse.

Document 2

Olaudah Equiano, an enslaved African from Benin, in his 1789 autobiography

When I looked around the [slave] ship [when I arrived at the coast] and saw a large furnace boiling and a multitude of black people chained together... I no longer doubted my faith.... I fell motionless on the deck and fainted. [Later] I asked if we were not to eaten by those white men with horrible looks, red faces, and loose hair.... I received such a salutation to my nostrils.... With the stench and crying together, I became so sick and low that I was not able to eat.... I now wished for the last friend, death, to relieve me.... I would have jumped over the side, but I could not.... The crew used to watch us very closely.... And I have seen some of these poor African prisoners most severely cut for attempting to do so, and hourly whipped for not eating. This indeed was often the case with myself.... I had never seen among my people such instances of brutal cruelty, and this not only shown towards us blacks but also to some of the whites themselves. One white man in particular I saw... flogged so unmercifully... that he died as a consequence of it; and they tossed over the side as they would have done a brute.... The hold was so crowded it almost suffocated us.... The shrieks of women and the groans of the dying rendered the whole a scene of horror almost inconceivable... At last we came in sight at the island of Barbados.... We were sold after their usual manner.... Without scrupal, our friends and relations separated, most of them never to see each other again.

Document 3

Venture Smith, freed slave, in his 1798 autobiography

All of us were then put into the castle and kept for market. On a certain time, I and other prisoners were put on board a canoe, under our master, and rowed away to a vessel belonging to Rhode Island, commanded by Captain Collingwood, and the mate, Thomas Mumford. While we were going to the vessel, our master told us to appear to the best possible advantage for sale. I was bought on board by one Robertson Mumford, steward of said vessel, for four gallons of rum and a piece of calico, and called VENTURE, on account of his having purchased me with his own private venture. Thus I came by my name. All the slaves that were bought for that vessel's cargo were two hundred and sixty.

British Migration to America

Document 4

The Mayflower Compact of 1620: Agreement Among the Settlers at New Plymouth

IN THE NAME OF GOD, AMEN. We, whose names are underwritten, the Loyal Subjects of our dread Sovereign Lord King James , by the Grace of God, of Great Britain, France, and Ireland, King, Defender of the Faith, &c. Having undertaken for the Glory of God, and Advancement of the Christian Faith, and the Honour of our King and Country, a Voyage to plant the first Colony in the northern Parts of Virginia; Do by these Presents, solemnly and mutually, in the Presence of God and one another, covenant and combine ourselves together into a civil Body Politick, for our better Ordering and Preservation, and Furtherance of the Ends aforesaid: And by Virtue hereof do enact, constitute, and frame, such just and equal Laws, Ordinances, Acts, Constitutions, and Officers, from time to time, as shall be thought most meet and convenient for the general Good of the Colony; unto which we promise all due Submission and Obedience. IN WITNESS whereof we have hereunto subscribed our names at Cape-Cod the eleventh of November, in the Reign of our Sovereign Lord King James, of England, France, and Ireland, the eighteenth, and of Scotland the fifty-fourth, Anno Domini; 1620.

Document 5

Charter of Privileges Granted by William Penn, esq. to the Inhabitants of Pennsylvania and Territories, October 28, 1701

...AND WHEREAS for the Encouragement of all the Freemen and Planters, that might be concerned in the said Province and Territories, and for the good Government thereof, I the said WILLIAM PENN, in the Year One Thousand Six Hundred Eighty and Three , for me, my Heirs and Assigns, did grant and confirm unto all the Freemen Planters and Adventurers therein, divers Liberties, Franchises and Properties, as by the said Grant, entitled, The FRAME of the Government of the Province of Pensilvania, and Territories thereunto belonging, in America, may appear; which Charter or Frame being found in some Parts of it, not so suitable to the present Circumstances of the Inhabitants, was in the Third Month, in the Year One Thousand Seven Hundred, delivered up to me, by Six Parts of Seven of the Freemen of this Province and Territories, in General Assembly met, Provision being made in the said Charter, for that End and Purpose.

...KNOW YE THEREFORE, That for the further Well-being and good Government of the said Province, and Territories; and in Pursuance of the Rights and Powers before-mentioned, I the said William Penn do declare, grant and confirm, unto all the Freemen, Planters and Adventurers, and other Inhabitants of this Province and Territories, these following Liberties, Franchises and Privileges, so far as in me lieth, to be held, enjoyed and kept, by the Freemen, Planters and Adventurers, and other Inhabitants of and in the said Province and Territories hereunto annexed, for ever.

Document 6

Charter of the Virginia Colony issued by British King James in 1606

James, by the Grace of God, King of England, Scotland, France, and Ireland, defender of Faith, etc....vouchsafe unto them [the listed investors] our license to make habitation, plantation, and to deduce a colony sundry of our people into part of America commonly called Virginia....Our subjects which shall dwell and inhabit within every or any part of the said several colonies and plantations, and every of their children, which shall happen to be born within any limits and precincts of the said several colonies and plantations shall have and enjoy all liberties, franchises, and immunities, within any of our dominions, to all intents and purposes, as if they had been abiding and born within this our realm of England.