Carter McNeal Yellow Class American Studies December 6, 2012

Thesis: Slaves responded to enslavement in a variety of ways, some active and some subtle, but both were important. o Argument 1: Blacks in the south responded nonviolently to enslavement by most commonly running away. Evidence 1: A flyer that would be around a town states, $200 reward ranaway from the subscriber, on the night of Thursday, the 30th of September. Five negro slaves.1 Explanation: This shows that running away was obviously important because this person was willing to give $200 to get them back which was a lot back then. o Argument 2: Other Blacks in the south responded to enslavement by violent rebellion. Evidence 1: Pbs.com states that in 1839, Singweh the African staged a mutiny of the Amistad slave ship because of the horrible conditions.2 Explanation: This is an important response because this shows an example of active rebellion and it is important because the mutiny killed crewmembers and forced the remaining crew to steer back to Africa, even though they went to Africa in the day, but at night they turned the ship back around towards America. o Argument 3: Blacks in the south also subtly responded by pretending to be sick so they couldnt work for their masters. Evidence 1: William Grimes describes how for days, perhaps longer, he feigned illness and refused food, hoping that his inability to work would convince his abusive master to sell him to a new owner.3 Explanation: This shows that subtle responses is significant because William Grimes is one of the most well known slaves, and he used a subtle way of responded. o Counterclaim Argument: Others might argue that only the active responses were significant.

pbs.com, Reward announcement for capture of runaways, 1 pbs.com, Affidavit of Singweh an Amistad African 1839, 1 3 pbs.com, The Life of William Grimes, The Runaway Slave, 1
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Counterclaim Evidence: In 1831 Nat Turner led a violent slave revolt that sent shockwaves through much of the nation.4 Counterclaim Explanation: This shows that the country only noticed and thought about the big, violent and active responses, and not the subtle ones. o Refutation Argument and Evidence: The subtle things were really important too, because William Grimes made a book, and it was about his pretending to be sick. Refutation Explanation: It shows that this is really important because this book is well known, and it is on the topic of subtle responses. Conclusion: No matter whether the response was active or subtle, any response was still significant.

pbs.com, Letter from the senior editor from the Constitutional Whig, 1