In many ways, the Revolution reinforced American commitment to slavery. On the other hand, the Revolution also hinged on radical new ideas about "liberty" and "equality," which challenged slavery's long tradition of extreme human inequality. The changes to slavery in the Revolutionary Era revealed both the potential for radical change and its failure more clearly than any other issue.

Plantation life created a society with clear class divisions. A lucky few were at the top, with land holdings as far as the eyes could see. Most Southerners did not experience this degree of wealth. The contrast between rich and poor was greater in the South than in the other English colonies, because of the labor system necessary for its survival. Most Southerners were yeoman farmers, indentured servants, or slaves. The plantation system also created changes for women and family structures as well.

This unit integrates collaboration on a research-based teaching unit, but not entirely based on what's available in the library. The librarian and teacher are involved in co-planning, co-teaching, and co-assessing this unit of study. Each person brings their own expertise to the table and they are seen as equals. The librarian is also able to effectively teach the students how to evaluate the resources that the libguide provides them, using other selected resources as non-examples for comparison's sake.

UMCDC 5th MiOpen Book Chapter 4 Section 8, 9 and 10 "Slavery in the Colonies" (20-21)

You recently learned that the 13 colonies did not form overnight. Instead, they started out as small settlements that expanded into colonies. In this Chapter, you will see exactly how those colonies developed into the states they are today.