Solomon Northup was a free black man from New York who was kidnapped in 1841 and sold into slavery. Over the next 12 years, he endured dehumanizing treatment as he was forced to labor on cotton and sugar cane plantations in Louisiana. After regaining his freedom in 1853, Northup wrote a memoir recounting his kidnapping and experiences as a slave, which helped further the abolitionist cause.

1. By Solomon Northup

2.  Twelve Years a Slave: Narrative of
Solomon Northup, A Citizen of New-
York, Kidnapped in Washington City in
1841, and Rescued in 1853, From a
Cotton Plantation near the Red River in
Louisiana, was published in 1853.
 Solomon Northup was a free black
living in New York who was lured
south, kidnapped, and sold into
slavery.
 His memoir, written shortly after his
escape, recounts the harrowing events
of his kidnapping and his
dehumanizing and violent treatment as
a slave on plantations in the interior of
Louisiana where he worked in the
cotton and sugar cane fields.

3.  Solomon Northup labored for
twelve years under several
masters. When he re-gained his
freedom, he wrote a memoir of his
years as a slave and then went on
to lecture with other abolitionist
leaders.
 It is unclear what happened to
Northup after 1857. Some
historians speculate that he had
financial troubles and may have
passed into obscurity. Others think
that he may have sought out other
adventures.

4. Following the 1793 invention of the cotton
gin, the demand for cotton increased,
leading to widespread economic gains for
planters.
When in January 1808 Congress officially
banned the international slave trade,
planters faced an acute labor shortage.
What might planters do?

5.  "Kidnapping a free Negro to be sold into
slavery"(http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/aia/ part3/3h510.html).
 Analyze the image: How is the black man depicted? The
slavers? What does the image suggest about this practice?

6.  Watch the following video and answer the questions:
 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DgKcqNavl3k
• 1) What does it mean that for a slave “it is all night, all night forever”?
• 2) What were some of the diseases the slaves suffered from?
• 3) What time did the work in the fields begin? How many hours did the slaves
usually work?
• 4) What was an auction block? What did the slaves have to do?
• 5) How were the wedding vows changed?
• 6) Why is slavery compared to a “sleeping serpent”?
• 7) How did Eli Whitney’s invention affect slavery?

7.  After analyzing the images and the video,
How do you feel?
What are your impressions on slavery?

8. What is a narrative?
Watch the following video about “Slave
Narratives”. Identify at least one
distinguishing feature. What makes “slave
narratives” different from the rest?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XnQqSl
WHHgQ

9.  As you read chapter 1, answer the following
questions:
 1. Given that Solomon Northup’s father was
born a slave, how is Solomon Northup a free
man?
 2. Who is Henry Northup, the man who helps
free Solomon from his slavery? How do the
two men know each other?
 3. Was Solomon’s manner and level of
education ordinary for black people of the
times? Why or why not?

10.  Create a timeline of your own life, selecting key
events you wish to highlight.
 Then, compare it with a classmate:
• What type of events did you choose to highlight on your
timeline?
• How do your choices differ from your partner’s? Why?
• What main ideas might he want to convey about life
experiences and how did this affect his choices?