Library of Congress: Sheet Music Slavery existed in the world for many centuries.

Based on economic reasons, this practice had spilled over into the newly found lands of America in the sixteenth century. The majority of slaves were brought into the England colonies during the eighteenth century. Africans were adopted as a source of cheap labor throughout most of the colonies, and were regarded as property and nothing more. The Library of Congress has provided a website titled: Historic American Sheet Music: 1850 - 1920 that provides an interpretation on American culture through a variety of songs. There is a wide collection on the subject of slavery. Through these songs, slaves have provided us with an account of their feelings, their dreams of freedom, and their happiness once their liberty was achieved. Teachers can use these songs in many ways to demonstrate how slaves felt toward slavery. Since they are teenagers, students will also be able to understand that music is one way that helps people keep going when they are going through a rough time in their life. Thus, they will form their own opinions as to what motivated slaves to write their own songs depicting life in servitude. Teachers can incorporate the song titled: Poor Charlie; Old Slave Who Ran Away and was Carried Back to his Master to a lesson that demonstrates to students how slaves above all, wanted to be with their loved ones. In the song, the writer explains how desperately he wants to see his friends, and the only way to achieve this is by running away. However, he is captured and brought back to the old cabin door. He describes himself as an old man who can now only dream of freedom. Teachers can use this song in their classroom to provide a glimpse to students of how hard it must have been for slaves to see their family and friends go when their owners would sell them. The song also

demonstrates how running away would sometimes be worse for a slave. In this song, the slave was caught and would now be separated from the rest, leaving him lonelier. This song can show students the loneliness slavery could bring when family was sold or when one would misbehave. However, the teacher can also show the students how slaves managed to survive by maintaining close ties with others who were brought into servitude. Teachers can use the song De Lord He Makes Us Free; Freedmans Song, in a lesson plan that demonstrates how slaves reacted when their freedom was announced. The song describes how they thanked God for their freedom, and how they could now get their pay at the end of a workday. Teachers can play the song and have students participate by singing the lyrics of the song. They can also instruct students to close their eyes and imagine that they too were slaves who were now free. Teachers can ask students two write an analysis of how they might have lived as slaves and what they might have been doing when they learned in 1863 that the Civil War would fight to give them their freedom. Through this assignment students will demonstrate their knowledge of slavery, the Civil War, and the Emancipation Proclamation message President Lincoln delivered during the war. Overall, the website of Library of Congress: Historic American Sheet Music 1850 1920 has many potential uses to a history teacher. Music, like art can be interpreted in many ways. Students can create their own viewpoints through the use of these songs. Since many students can relate their own problems to music, they will be able to see the connection between them and the authors of these songs, who were writing of their troubles and pains as well.