In this lesson plan, students will examine primary and secondary sources relating to the themes of slavery and freedom and will interpret the experiences of Black Loyalists. In addition to migrating to present-day New Brunswick, Black Loyalists were promised their freedom for remaining loyal to the British Empire during the American Revolution. The sources provide historical evidence of the lives of Black Loyalists in New Brunswick and help to tell the story of whether the promise of freedom was kept.
Students will:
This learning activity assists students to:
This activity is presented once students have been introduced to New Brunswick history in the eighteenth century. Focus on the Loyalist migration to New Brunswick after the American Revolution may be considered. Students should have a grasp of the cultural and political forces at play during this time in history.
It may also be helpful to review with the class terms that may be unfamiliar to them.
Examine the resources available in the Historical Context section of the website. Introduce the students to major topics such as slavery, the American Revolution, Loyalist migration to New Brunswick, the Book of Negroes, and the General Birch Certificate of Freedom, emphasizing key historical acts such as the 1807 Slavery Trade Act and the Slavery Abolition Act of 1833.
In small groups, assign a biography of a Black Loyalist to each group. Ask students to read the biography and document the significant events it describes.
Encourage students to conduct additional research to better understand the story of their assigned biography using the Resources listed below.
Ask students to present their findings to the class.
As a class, engage students with the following series of questions:
Lesson plans and learning activities were developed by the Atlantic Canada Virtual Archives' Instructional Design team, Lisa Charlong and Jody Polec. We welcome your comments and suggestions.