Lessons on Slavery and the New World (1500–1800)

This collection of lesson plans provides a comprehensive study of “Slavery and the New World (1500–1800)” for IBDP History Paper 3, focusing on the critical themes outlined in the syllabus. Through worksheets, PowerPoints, videos, and student-led activities, students will gain a thorough understanding of the origins and reasons for slavery, examining how labour shortages and economic demands in the New World drove the transatlantic slave trade. The role of colonial powers, including the asiento system, is explored to show how European nations institutionalised slavery to meet the labour needs of plantation economies.

Students will delve into the realities of the Middle Passage and plantation life, using primary accounts to understand the harsh living and working conditions and their impact on social structures in Brazil, the West Indies, and British America. Case studies of slave resistance, such as the Stono Rebellion, highlight the ways in which enslaved people resisted oppression. Opposition to slavery is also examined, focusing on early abolitionist movements like those led by the Quakers, encouraging students to analyse the impact of these efforts.

These lesson plans include activities such as group research projects, source-based analyses, debates, and simulations, ensuring that students engage critically with the material while developing analytical skills. Each resource is tailored to support both content understanding and the development of key skills required for success in the IBDP History course.