In this lesson, students read advertisements placed in the Virginia Gazette by slave owners for the return of self-emancipating enslaved people, then summarize the information and use it to make inferences about slavery in 18th-century Virginia.

This lesson examines how the institution of race-based slavery was created over time. It traces how reactions to specific events led to the codification of slavery in Virginia, which created a pattern for other colonies to follow.

What makes history come alive? Take a behind-the-scenes look at how historical African American character portrayals are created for Colonial Williamsburg’s Historic Area. From research through performance, experienced museum interpreters share their techniques for bringing the past to life.

What makes history come alive? Take a behind-the-scenes look at how historical African American character portrayals are created for Colonial Williamsburg’s Historic Area. From research through performance, experienced museum interpreters share their techniques for bringing the past to life.

What makes history come alive? Take a behind-the-scenes look at how historical African American character portrayals are created for Colonial Williamsburg’s Historic Area. From research through performance, experienced museum interpreters share their techniques for bringing the past to life.

In this lesson, students explore how historians use primary sources to discover information about people of the past and draw conclusions about their lives. Using the case study of Matthew Ashby, a free mulatto man who lived in Williamsburg prior to the Revolutionary War, students investigate primary sources and build a profile of this unique Williamsburg resident.

NOTE: To further apply the methodology of this lesson, there is also an associated packet (Through Different Eyes Packet: Biographies of 18th-Century Williamsburg Residents) containing a collection of biographies of 18th-century Williamsburg residents and related primary source materials.

Free Black men and women forged a place for themselves between the free white and enslaved communities. They were a key part of the American story from nearly the beginning. Through the story of Matthew Ashby, explore the lives and struggles of free Blacks during the eighteenth century.

Free Black men and women forged a place for themselves between the free white and enslaved communities. They were a key part of the American story from nearly the beginning. Through the story of Matthew Ashby, explore the lives and struggles of free Blacks during the eighteenth century.

Free Black men and women forged a place for themselves between the free white and enslaved communities. They were a key part of the American story from nearly the beginning. Through the story of Matthew Ashby, explore the lives and struggles of free Blacks during the eighteenth century.

Using these literacy resources related to the No Master Over Me video program, students read primary sources about Matthew Ashby and the narrative to Paul Hook to explore the lives of free Black people in the 18th century. They also analyze self-liberation advertisements.

In this lesson, students investigate the Reconstruction Amendments to determine their strengths, weaknesses, and lasting impact on our divided nation after the American Civil War.

This resource packet contains a collection of biographies of 18th-century Williamsburg residents and related primary source materials.