![]() ![]() When slaves ran away, they became fugitives under the law. Tell students that enslaved Africans were considered property by their owners. It is especially important that students understand the role of the Fugitive Slave Act and how it impacts the characters in the story. Prereading Focus Discussion and Questionsīefore reading The Legend of Freedom Hill with the class, you may wish to share the background material to help students understand the setting of the story. The story is based on plight of runaway and escaped slaves during the pre-Civil War era. This book is especially appropriate for use in February as part of your Black History Month program. The population of California increased from about 15,000 in 1848 to more than 100,000 by the end of 1849. Heavy penalties were imposed on those who aided fugitives or interfered with their return.Ĭalifornia’s request for statehood was prompted by the discovery of gold there in 1848 and the subsequent flood of people who poured into the territory from all parts of the world. The Fugitive Slave Act of 1850 mandated the return of runaway slaves, regardless of where in the Union they might be situated at the time of their discovery or capture. However, it was agreed that fugitive slaves who fled to free states would be returned to their owners. Under the provisions of this compromise, California was admitted as a free state. California gained its statehood under the Compromise of 1850. The crisis came to a head again when California asked to join as a free state. Between 18, six more states joined the Union and were equally divided between slave and free states. ![]() In 1820 under the Missouri Compromise, Maine entered as a free state and Missouri as a slave state. Neither the North nor the South was willing to upset the balance of power in Congress by having an unequal number of free and slave states. As new states were carved out of this territory, the question of whether slavery would be allowed in them arose. Not only do they buy Miz Violet’s freedom, but they exchange their claim for all the other runaway slaves the catcher has imprisoned as well.Īfter the Louisiana Purchase of 1803, the issue of slavery began to divide the United States. Thompkins at the assay office, the girls do find gold and make a claim for a mine. When a slave catcher takes Miz Violet, the girls decide to dig for gold to buy her freedom. Although Rosabel has freedom papers, her mother Miz Violet does not. Rosabel is the daughter of slaves and Sophie is Jewish. In California in the 1850s, two young girls of different backgrounds become friends. Illustrations by Cornelius Van Wright, Ying-Hwa Hu TEACHER'S GUIDE FOR: The Legend of Freedom Hill ![]()
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