Lesson Eight: Debating Buyback of Slaves

Overview

Student groups will research three topics for a debate about slave buybacks. The students will be in one of three groups: historians of the buyback debate, proponents for the buyback program, and opponents to the buyback program. On the debate day, the historians will begin. Speeches presented by the proponents and opponents will alternate. At the end of the debate, each student will write a short opinion piece that identifies a debate winner.

Objective

Students will research topic for debate. Students will prepare an opinion for a debate and give a two-minute presentation to the class. In addition, students will attempt to understand the perspective of both sides of a debate.

Time Frame

Research and preparation: One to two weeks
Debates: 45-60 minutes (each student debates for 2 minutes)
Writing response to the debate: 20 minutes

Materials

1. Three groups of students: historians, proponents, and opponents. Use these resources:
   • Articles and news reports on slave redemption

Procedure

1. Assign students debate topics.

2. Provide in-class time for research, writing, and rehearsal of speeches.

3. Practice speeches and debating skills.

4. Debate format:

• Panel of historians presents ten-minute overview of the history of the buyback debate.
• Pull names alternately out of two hats so that speeches flip between the buyback proponents and opponents.
• Between speeches, pull names out of opposite hat to ask a question to which the speaker must provide a rebuttal.
• After the debate, all students fill out an evaluation to determine which side won the debate.

Follow-Up Activities

1. Students will write research papers based on the research conducted for the debates.
2. Students will write opinion pieces about one or both sides of the debate.
3. Students will present the debates to another class or to the school.

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