Try these multiple choice questions. The passages are all taken from the pamphlets in the collection.
1•The following passage describes the slave system in the 18th century in which part of the world? “They seldom sell their family slaves, except for great crimes – some of them have a good many house slaves, in which they place a great pride; and these slaves live so well and easy, that it is hard to know them from their owners, being often better clothed, especially the females, who have sometimes coral, amber, and silver necklaces and ornaments.” The Caribbean America Africa Mesopotamia (present-day Iraq, eastern Syria, south-eastern Turkey and south-west Iran)
2•Which of the following views of the enslavement and trafficking of Africans do you think is the opinion of Alexander Falconbridge, a doctor who travelled on board slave ships? “It would be as vain to enforce a code of laws on the inhabitants of the moon as to civilise Africans, and render them sensible of the blessings which Europeans enjoy from their industry, and superior civil and religious institutions; the climate they inhabit is wholly opposed to it.” “We ought to consider whether the negroes in a well regulated plantation, under the protection of a kind master, do not enjoy as great, nay, even greater advantages than when under their own despotic governments…” “This barbarous usage of those unfortunate wretches, makes it appear, that the fate of such as are bought and transported from the coast to America, or other parts of the world, by Europeans, is less deplorable, than that of those who end their days in their native country.” “Negroes are not, in the first instance, bought for the increase of the species, but for their work; and if a certain quantity of work be not done, their owners must be ruined.” “The African slave was sometimes a criminal, but, more often than not, he was captured in battle. As the slave trade grew and with it the need for more slaves, the number of these battles increased. Clearly, many battles were being fought solely for the purpose of acquiring slaves who could then be sold to the European traders. Sometimes, too, the slave might have been the political enemy of the ruler or of some other powerful person.” “It frequently happens that those who kidnap others are themselves, in their turns, seized and sold. A Negro in the West Indies informed me that after having been employed in kidnapping others, he had experienced this reverse. And he assured me, that it was a common incident among his countrymen. Continual enmity is [thus] fostered among the negroes of Africa, and all social intercourse between them destroyed.”
3•The following passages describe the conditions of enslaved Africans onboard slave ships during the Middle Passage, a journey from the west coast of Africa across the Atlantic Ocean. Match the quote with the correct author. “The treatment of the seamen was cruel from the very beginning to the end of the voyage. Ropes and handspikes were in common use; and were often kicked and beaten with the fist for only imaginary faults…there was not one [voyage] in which a seaman was well used.” Ship captain Abolitionist Doctor Sailor Former slave “This wretched situation was again aggravated by the galling of the chains, now become insupportable; and the filth of the necessary tubs, into which the children often fell, and were almost suffocated. The shrieks of the women, and the groans of the dying, rendered the whole a scene of horror almost inconceivable.” Ship captain Abolitionist Doctor Sailor Former slave “[Slaves] had sufficient room, sufficient air, and sufficient provisions. When upon deck, they made merry and amused themselves with dancing. As to mortality… it was trifling. In short, the voyage from Africa to the West Indies was one of the happiest periods of a Negro’s life.” Ship captain Abolitionist Doctor Sailor Former slave The captain of an English ship had enticed several of the natives on board, and finding a favourable opportunity, sailed away with them. His vessel however was driven back to the coast from whence it had set sail, and was obliged to cast anchor on the very spot where this act of treachery had been committed. At this time two other English vessels were lying in the same river. The natives, ever since the transaction, were determined to retaliate…they accordingly boarded the three vessels, and having made themselves masters of them, they killed most of their crews. Ship captain Abolitionist Doctor Sailor Former slave
4•Choose the description of enslavement in the Caribbean that is written by a Jamaican planter. "My negroes have increased and are happy. They kill me with their constant visits and attentions. It gives pleasure, though I am fatigued to death before the day is half gone for I must talk and shake hands with every one of them.” “A man of the name of Nowell…was in the habit of behaving brutally towards his wife, and one day went so far as to lock her in her room and confine her in chains. A Negro woman belonging to this man, touched with compassion for her unfortunate mistress, undertook privately to release her. Nowell found it out and in order to punish her, obliged her to put her tongue through a hole in a board, to which he fastened it on the other side with a fork, and left her in that situation for some time. He afterwards cut out her tongue nearly by the root, of which she almost instantly died.” “[My mistress] caused me to know the exact difference between the smart of the rope, the cart whip and the cow skin, when applied to my naked body by her own cruel hand. And there was scarcely any punishment more dreadful than the blows I received on my face and head from her hard heavy fist.” “Domestic enjoyment [for the enslaved married couple] is impossible… [the wife] cannot obey the wishes of her husband…her body, strength and time are the possession of another...the husband has to witness the woman whom he loves urged on to her tasks by the cart whip. She may be thrown to the ground, her person exposed, and her flesh lacerated before his eyes, and he dares not even attempt to defend her… they have as much authority over their children as a cow has over her calf.”
5•Which of the following statements does not go with the other? ‘Several slaves on board refuse sustenance, with a design to starve themselves. He [Dr Falconbridge] has known also many instances of their refusing to take medicines when sick, because they wished to die. A woman…was dejected from the moment she came on board, and refused both food and medicine: being asked by the interpreter what she wanted, she replied, nothing but to die – and she did die. “The Angola slaves being very peaceable, are seldom confined in irons – and they are allowed to keep below or upon deck, as they please –it is desirable to have them all day upon deck, and engaged in some exercise.” “Amongst a people thus hardened into an orderly ferocity – trained from inclination – impenetrably fortified on the finest territory on earth, and next to inaccessible to external attack, what hopes are entertained of the success of the present armament I know not; but whatever might be expected from a compromise with Toussaint, I feel perfectly convinced no other means will succeed in the subjugation of St. Domingo.” “I would rather die upon yonder gallows than live in slavery.”
6•Which of the following uses a different argument for continuing the slave trade? “If the commerce in Africa was not carried on by Great Britain, it would be by our commercial rivals the French and the Dutch, from whom we must be contented to get a clandestine supply of Negroes or our colonies would decline so rapidly, as to be no longer worth the national attention or regard.” “Mr Cropper boldly states that were the Negroes free, they would be both more willing and better labourers than they are in their present situation. Everyone who has been to the West Indies…assures me that the fact is quite contrary…in general, the manumitted Negroes are idle, indolent and slothful…though they possessed good characters while they were slaves.” “It has already been observed, that British laws alone cannot abolish the slave trade, but that they may, in the attempt, discourage British shipping, and turn over the African trade entirely to foreigners.”
7•Match the quote with the most appropriate image.
Quote A “Are there no tests to prove or sincerity (to help end slavery), no sacrifices to be offered as confirmation of our zeal? Yes, there is one - It is ABSTINENCE FROM THE USE OF WEST INDIAN PRODUCTIONS, sugar especially…when there is no longer a market for the productions of slave labour, then, and not till then, will the slaves be emancipated.”
Quote B“Martial law, blood, slaughter, summary and sweeping executions are promptly resorted to by the local authorities of Demerara. And the audacity of the negro of having indulged even a thought or a dream of freedom and in having dared, somewhat irregularly, to demand what it was which the reported benevolence of his Sovereign really designed for him, must be expiated by rivers of blood.”
Quote C“…if liberty is only an adventitious right; if men are by no means superior to brutes; if every social duty is a curse; if cruelty is highly to be esteemed; if murder is strictly honourable, and Christianity is a lye; then it is evident, that the African slavery may be pursued, without the remorse of conscience…but if the contrary of this is true, , which reason must immediately evince, it is evident that no custom established among men was ever more impious.”
8•Which quote does not use religion to support an argument for continuing the slave trade? “If we carefully examine the scriptures we shall find that slavery and oppression were ever abominable in the sight of God…for though the Jews were permitted to keep slaves, there was no inherent right of service to be implied from this permission, because whenever the slave could escape he was esteemed free; and it was absolutely unlawful for any man to deliver him up again to his master.” “The slave trade…was evidently tolerated and approved of by God Almighty in the days of Abraham, and was confirmed 600 years afterwards, at Mount Sinai; where God, by his servant Moses, enacted wholesome regulating laws, for the purchase and usage of the slaves.” But, were the slave trade as criminal in its nature as pretended, were it a pursuit hateful in the sight of God, and an atrocious encroachment on the sacred rights of justice and humanity , would Jacob, or rather, would god, who spoke by his mouth, have overlooked the atrocity of a crime big with such an accumulation of guilt? “The eldest born of Ham, who was accursed by his father, was called Cush, which, in the Hebrew language signifies black. Ethiopia, under which name it is supposed Africa is included, is called in Scripture, the land of Cush, and the inhabitants Cushim, or Cushites. Is it an improbable conjecture that the Negroes are descendants of Ham, by his eldest son Cush? Which may, perhaps, account for the degraded situation those people have ever continued in.”
9•Despite the passing of the act in 1807 abolishing the slave trade in Britain and its colonies, slavery was still widely practiced. Match the quote with the correct statement. “it is a lamentable fact, that from the year 1820 to 1830, of some 14 or 15 thousand of these unfortunate negroes called ‘emancipados’ delivered over to the Spanish authorities at Cuba, one individual only has obtained freedom…they are regularly sold into slavery for terms of five, seven and ten years.” Sugar in East India is also produced by enslaved labourers. Under a new labour system in the West Indies, African-Caribbeans are subject to cruel maltreatment. British subjects were still in the slave trade, in direct violation of the act of Parliament. Emancipated Africans were sent to territories not affected by the trade ban. “I have been very ill treated by Mr Senior and the magistrates since the law come in. Apprentices get a great deal more punishment now than they did when they was slaves; the master take spite, and do all he can to hurt them than before the free come.” Sugar in East India is also produced by enslaved labourers. Under a new labour system in the West Indies, African-Caribbeans were subject to cruel maltreatment. British subjects were still in the slave trade, in direct violation of the act of Parliament. Emancipated Africans were sent to territories not affected by the trade ban. “Bondoo was sworn on the Old Testament. The prisoner (Joseph Peters) gave him as a slave to Santera; he made his escape; he was sold by the prisoner as a slave; he was delivered by the prisoner at Bance Island to Santera who took him to Port Logo…they were sold by the prisoner as slaves, who made the black people work as slaves, and flogged them; he had beaten the witness; he saw many at Port logo who were sold by the prisoner, many of whom the witness named; they were sold as slaves.” Sugar in East India is also produced by enslaved labourers. Under a new labour system in the West Indies, African-Caribbeans are subject to cruel maltreatment. British subjects were still in the slave trade, in direct violation of the act of Parliament. Emancipated Africans were sent to territories not affected by the trade ban.
10•Match the quote made by or about the person to the correct image.
Quote A “Our only hope today lies in our ability to recapture the revolutionary spirit and go into a sometimes hostile world declaring eternal hostility to poverty, racism, and militarism."
Quote B"… we charge you with the responsibility to lead our peoples and Continent into the new world of the next century – which must be an African Century – during which all our people will be freed of the bitterness born of the marginalisation and degradation of our proud continent of Africa."
Quote C“Though fallen thyself, never to rise again, Live, and take comfort. Thou hast left behind Powers that will work for thee; air, earth, and skies; There’s not a breathing of the common wind That will forget thee; thou hast great allies; Thy friends are exultations, agonies, And love, and man’s unconquerable mind."
