A MaAct of Congress-effective in 1808-outlawed foreign importation of slaves. Constitution that Congress would not be able to ban the importation of slaves before 1808. In 1787 the nation’s founding fathers had written into the U.S. Next, have students analyze the most interesting and compelling document, the slave manifest for the Brig Orleans, which proves Northup was sold into slavery. You can also find it on DocsTeach, our online tool for teaching with documents. Census page from Saratoga Springs, including Solomon Northup, a free man of color, and his family (line 12). Part of Northup’s amazing story can be authenticated by documents found in the National Archives.įirst, have students check the 1840 federal census to find Northup living in upstate New York as a free person of color. Northup, a free man of color, was kidnapped and sold into slavery. The new movie, Twelve Years a Slave, released nationwide last Friday, November 1st, is based on Solomon Northup’s 1853 autobiography.
Today’s post comes from Kris McIntosh, volunteer at the National Archives at Fort Worth, and retired Fort Worth I.S.D.
