9th Graders ONLY!/African American History questions

(Summarization Skills)

Africans, Slavery and Race article

Answer the following questions in complete sentences:

1. What is the thesis statement? What is the major point that the author is trying to prove?
2. How did the Spaniards become wealthy?
3. How did European nations follow Columbus' lead? What did they try to produce and how did they attempt to do it?
4. Was the enslavement of indigenous people successful? Why or why not?
5. What was the alternative labor force that the Portuguese used?
6. What coast in Africa did the Portuguese enslave people from?
7. How were Africans initially enslaved?
8. Were Africans initially enslaved because they were thought to be racially inferior? Why or why not?
9. What crops did African enslaved people grow in the Americas?
10. What decade did European American colonists start to enslave and import Africans?
11. In the 17th Century Chesapeake colony what rights did slaves enjoy?
12. Could slaves earn enough money to purchase their freedom?
13. According to Smedley, what are at least 3 events led to enslaved Africans losing their rights and limited freedoms?