How do the historical news articles present this aspect of the Crafts’ story, and how do those articles and Woo’s book reflect broader patterns of antebellum America?

After returning from his trip to the U.S. in 1831, the English traveler James Boardman commented, “Nothing in America is perhaps more striking than the rapid and general diffusion of information through the community by means of newspapers” (Masur, 113). Many of those newspapers are available for us to use as primary sources in historical research. One large database of articles is Chronicling America Opens in new window, provided by the Library of Congress. For this essay, identify a significant topic (person, event, issue, etc.) discussed in Ilyon Woo’s book Master Slave Husband Wife, then use Chronicling America Opens in new window to find 2 or 3 articles from newspapers printed anytime in the years covered by her story of Ellen and William Craft (1848 to 1860) that discuss that topic you chose. (The articles may or may not directly address the Crafts themselves.) In your essay of 3-5 pages double-spaced, address the following: How do the historical news articles present this aspect of the Crafts’ story, and how do those articles and Woo’s book reflect broader patterns of antebellum America? Compose a single, unified essay on this topic, and avoid creating separate essays on each news article. Write your essays so that someone who is not in our class can understand it clearly. This includes explaining the topic, its historical context, and the interpretations offered by Woo. Use details from Master Slave Husband Wife, the articles you found, lectures, and relevant sections of American Yawp.

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