The Declaration of Independence and the words “all men are created equal” provided thousands of enslaved Africans high expectations and many were ready to fight for the Country and their own personal freedom. Thousands of enslaved Africans impacted the war right from the start at Lexington and Concord, all the way to the end at Yorktown. This lesson will explore the life of James Armistead Lafayette, an enslaved African Virginian. Working as an undercover spy for George Washington, James risked his life to gather key intelligence about the British that helped secure an American victory at Yorktown. In this lesson, we will discuss whether his efforts in service of the American cause helped or hindered his ability to achieve emancipation. 

Students will read the excerpt from Olaudah Equiano's slave narrative and first analyze the primary source using the SOAPSTone method. Students will further analyze the source to identify the conditions of the Middle Passage from the point of view of an enslaved African. Students should pay particular attention to the purpose of the narrative and be able to identify the way in which Equiano attempts to convince the reader of the injustice of slavery.