Developed By: Dennis Culliton and Paquita Jarman-Smith 

Soon after the settlement of New England, slavery, first Indigenous and then African, became a way to support the export driven economy of the region. This unit will focus on slavery in Connecticut, the U.S., sources of that history, and how we can use analytical lenses to interpret the evidence and tell the story of local slavery and the individuals held in captivity. Themes of resistance and agency will be explored. In this unit students will: • Analyze how Africans, African Americans, and their descendants have struggled to gain freedom, equality, and social justice. • Explore the ways in which slavery was embedded in culture and legislation. • Investigate how multiple racial and cultural perspectives influence the interpretation of slavery. Compelling Question: How were some Africans from the global diaspora able to assert their agency to resist slavery; why were other Africans unable to do this?