Sample RAFT Assignments

You are a Quaker abolitionist. In a love story to your partner, explain why you can’t live in a world with slavery.

My Dearest Tucker,

I feel like our love is the only pure thing in a world stained with hatred and injustice. How can our fellow brethren enslave one another? Are they too blind to see that color is only that, color? Do they not realize behind that color lie a man? A man worthy of rights and all the opportunities presented to people of a paler complexion!  Oh Tuck, why can’t they see?  As a Quaker, I believe God resides in ALL people, and that each of us holds within ourselves an inner light. This inner light we all possess directly connects us to our gracious God, and makes all of us equal in every single way. Tuck, if only the whole world were Friends! The love I feel for you, and in a lesser degree for all mankind, is great and knows no bounds. I strive to be as forgiving as our Merciful Father but I cannot find the strength within myself to not detest these vile shadows of people known as slaveholders. Those poor, poor Africans! They are deprived the gift of knowledge, and deprived of the natural rights we are born with! It seems as if this whole world is drenched in prejudice and brimming with hatred. How can I continue to keep living in such a place!?!? If it wasn’t for the sheer amount of joy you bring me or the steadily approaching date of our nuptials, I would surely fall into a state of despair.

I anxiously await each of you letters; the visit with your Uncle Kit seems to be dragging on and on. It must be such a torture for you to journey to the South, where slavery is rampant, abundant, and horribly interlaced with the economy. I shudder at the images you may have seen, each individual burdens you will carry with you for a long, long time. My heart is heavy in your absence; you took with you my greatest friend and lover. Each breath without you pains me; hurry home to me my love.

Most Affectionately Yours,

Your Eternal Love, Sophie Cromwell

1. You are the child of a plantation slave and master. How does your mixed heritage help or hurt you in the new government?

My name is Raymond Astor, and I am the eldest son of Alfred Astor; prominent plantation owner and important member of the circle of the Southern elite. However, I am not the heir to his immense fortune, in fact; I am no more than his mere property. My mother, Hazel, had me eighteen years ago, and ever since then has been one of Charleston’s favorite gossip topics. My mother was also the result of a scandalous inter-racial coupling, thus making me seventy five percent white, and twenty five percent  African. Despite the majority of my parentage being white, I am still an unrecognized citizen of America, three fifths of a person, and my father’s property.  I am more white than I am black, yet I still am forced to work the cotton fields, and engage in exhaustive manual labor each day. I damn the calluses on my hands, for I have no need for them. Am I not an Astor? I am an intelligent man, regardless of my lot in life. I, unlike many of my fellow enslaved brothers, am literate, and try to keep up on the political happenings of my country.  Therefore, I know of Thomas Jefferson’s stance in the Declaration of Independence that all men are created equal. Does this not apply to me? I have green eyes, light brown hair, and a medium skin tone, yet because a small amount of African blood that runs through my veins I am forced to toil in the fields of my father’s plantation. Where do we draw the line? At what point does your genetic makeup overrule your skin color? I am neither a white man nor a black man, I am both. America has no set rules for me, I am the anomaly. The government can’t help me, it’s too entrenched in age old prejudices. The Declaration of Independence doesn’t apply to me; I am a man unequal. America has no place for me, and I don’t know where I stand politically, socially, or economically. I am part of the invisible population; denied their rights and forced to live a life in shame.

3. You are in a debtor’s prison, and you have recently learned of the Bill of Rights. In a letter, plead you case.

Hello Judge Amsterdam,

My name is Isabella Le Montague, and I am a twenty five year old mother of three. Six years ago, my husband died during an important battle in the American Revolution. I was left alone; forced to find a way to keep myself and my family afloat. My mother and I have been scraping together as much money together as we can, in a desperate attempt to stay out of debt and keep our farm. About a year ago, I stopped making payments on the farmhouse; we had a particularly terrible harvest and were left with no source of income. The tax collectors came, and I had nothing to give them. Two days later, I was dragged into custody; I wasn’t even given the chance to have a proper goodbye with my children! The men threw me into a debtor’s prison, and I lost any hope of seeing my family again. However, recently I’ve learned of the Bill Of Rights and my hopes have sparked once again. I believe amendments six, seven, and eight directly correlate with my case, which I pray you will reconsider. I feel as though my stay here is in direct opposition with amendment six and seven; I was not judged by a jury of my peers, I was given no trial at all, the men told me that my debt was so high a trial was unnecessary. I never thought such an injustice would take root in America! Also, I believe my punishment outweighs my crime, thousands upon thousands of farmers are downing in debt; and I was one of the few in Springfield who didn’t join that vigilante Daniel Shays! As you can see, my detainment here directly conflicts with the constitution, I am a good citizen and a proud American who just wishes to go back home. Please reconsider my case, and please allow me to return to my family; my children need a mother. Thank you for your time.

Anxiously Waiting,

Isabella Le Montague