Northup Flashcards
Where was Northup born?
Born free in New York to former slave father and free-born mother
Source: Twelve Years a Slave (1853)
What happened to Northup after being kidnapped?
Kidnapped by two white men, woke up in New Orleans without his free papers
Source: Twelve Years a Slave (1853)
How much was Northup sold for in 1841 and 1843?
Sold to a series of owners in Louisiana (first for $900 in 1841, finally for $1,500 in 1843)
Source: Twelve Years a Slave (1853)
What did a hired carpenter do to help Northup?
Hired carpenter wrote letters on his behalf, reaching a lawyer in NY who knew him, and gathered documents to authorize his rescue
Source: Twelve Years a Slave (1853)
Why did Northup fail in efforts to prosecute kidnappers & traders?
Failed in efforts to prosecute kidnappers & traders since he couldn’t legally testify against them
Source: Twelve Years a Slave (1853)
Who collaborated with Northup in writing the book?
Written in collaboration with white author who corroborates the facts in the introduction
Source: Twelve Years a Slave (1853)
What did the book become in terms of sales?
Bestseller, selling more than combined sales of major publications from Thoreau, Whitman, Longfellow, Emerson
What did the author become for abolitionist audiences?
Celebrity speaker
What was an element of this writing by northup?
Disbelief
What is another element of northups story?
compassion for owner based on his cultural circumstances
compassion for owner based on his cultural circumstances
What did the master do to his slaves?
master preaching to his slaves
master preaching to his slaves
What was the condition of the slaves?
being worked to the verge of death
being worked to the verge of death
Who was described as the ‘victim of lust and hate’?
Patsey: ‘victim of lust and hate’ — her whipping
Patsey: ‘victim of lust and hate’ — her whipping