Questions on Jamaican Slave Rebellion

Grades 3-5

What does it mean to rebel? Why do people sometimes feel the need to rebel?
Why do you think enslaved people in Jamaica wanted to fight for their freedom?
What would life have been like for enslaved people in Jamaica before the rebellion?
How do you think enslaved people planned their rebellions without being caught?
What do you think was the most challenging part of fighting back?
Why is it important to remember the people who fought for freedom?
Can you think of a time when you stood up for something that was unfair? What happened?
How do you think the enslavers felt when the rebellion happened?
What do you think freedom meant to the people who fought in the rebellion?
How do people today fight against unfair treatment?

Grades 6-8

What were the main causes of slave rebellions in Jamaica?
How did enslaved people organize and communicate their plans for rebellion?
What risks did enslaved people face when they rebelled?
How did the Jamaican slave rebellions compare to other uprisings, like the Haitian Revolution?
What role did leaders like Samuel Sharpe play in inspiring enslaved people to fight back?
Why do you think some rebellions failed while others led to lasting change?
How did plantation owners and the British government respond to the rebellions?
How did the Jamaican rebellions influence the fight for the end of slavery?
Why do you think enslaved people continued to resist, even when the odds were against them?
What lessons can we learn from these rebellions about standing up against injustice?

Grades 9-12

How did different Jamaican slave rebellions (e.g., Tacky’s War, the 1760 Rebellion, and the 1831 Baptist War) contribute to the abolition of slavery?
What were the key strategies used by enslaved people during rebellions, and how effective were they?
How did geography and the environment of Jamaica impact the success or failure of these rebellions?
What was the British government’s response to these uprisings, and how did they justify their actions?
Compare the Jamaican slave rebellions to other global anti-slavery revolts—what made them unique?
How did the stories of these rebellions shape Jamaican culture and identity today?
In what ways did resistance take different forms beyond armed rebellion?
How did the 1831 Baptist War contribute to the British decision to abolish slavery in 1834?
Why do you think some historical narratives downplay or ignore the role of enslaved people in fighting for their own freedom?
How do modern social justice movements connect to the spirit of resistance seen in these rebellions?

Freedom Fighters Poster – Create a visual tribute to the leaders of the Jamaican slave rebellions.
Rebellion Timeline – Develop a timeline of major slave rebellions in Jamaica, highlighting key events.
Historical Newspaper Report – Write a newspaper article from the perspective of a journalist reporting on a rebellion in the 1800s.
Leader’s Speech – Imagine you are Samuel Sharpe or another leader. Write and perform a speech encouraging enslaved people to fight for freedom.
Survivor’s Testimony – Write a first-person diary entry or letter from the perspective of someone who participated in the rebellion.
Compare & Contrast Essay – Compare the Jamaican slave rebellions to another slave revolt, such as the Haitian Revolution or Nat Turner’s Rebellion.
Art & Resistance – Create an art piece that symbolizes the courage and strength of the people who fought in the rebellion.
Modern Freedom Fighters – Research and present how today’s activists continue the fight for justice and freedom worldwide.

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