Motivations and Justifications

What is the difference between a “motive” and a “justification,” as the author uses them in this article? Use one example of each from the text to support your answer.

Exit Ticket

SWBAT analyze the economic motivations and religious/scientific justifications for slavery to explain the contradiction between the system of slavery and Enlightenment ideals of liberty.

Objectives

motive: the real reason
justification: the excuse
Contradiction: A difference between two ideas about something that means they cannot both be true

Profit: A financial gain

INDEPENDENT/GROUP WORK SLIDES

1. Read your assigned section.

2. Identify the 2-3 most important sentences that explain either the motivations or justifications for slavery.

3. Be prepared to share your findings with the class.

• Section A: Read from "What were the motivations for using enslaved labor?" to "...the same system of slavery." and answer questions 2-3

• Section B: Read from "What were the justifications for using enslaved labor?" to "...scientific research has proven them wrong." and answer questions 4-5

• LEFT SIDE of Room: Section A Experts → MOTIVATIONS (the real reasons)

• RIGHT SIDE of Room: Section B Experts → JUSTIFICATIONS (the excuses)

SPEAKERS & Listeners - Your Job

STAND UP & SHARE:

1. Answer your guiding question

2. Read 1 sentence from the text as proof

3. Explain what it shows

SECTION A QUESTIONS:

• What was the principal motive for using enslaved labor?

• How were the people in William Clark’s 1823 painting Cutting the Sugar Cane, Antigua economically related to Harewood House in Leeds?

SECTION B QUESTIONS:

• In what ways did people use religion to justify slavery?

• In what way did people misuse science to argue in favor of slavery? Were these arguments sustained by evidence?

LISTENERS - Your Job

FILL IN YOUR CHART:

✰ STAR surprising or important info

• Answer Questions that were not assigned to you

• Ask questions for clarity

SECTION A QUESTIONS: Motivations

SHARE:

1. Identify the 2-3 most important sentences that explain the motivations for slavery.

SECTION A QUESTIONS:

• What was the principal motive for using enslaved labor?

• How were the people in William Clark’s 1823 painting Cutting the Sugar Cane, Antigua economically related to Harewood House in Leeds?

SECTION B QUESTIONS: Justifications

SHARE:

1. Identify the 2-3 most important sentences that explain the justifications for slavery.

SECTION B QUESTIONS:

• In what ways did people use religion to justify slavery?

• In what way did people misuse science to argue in favor of slavery? Were these arguments sustained by evidence?