The Long Path to Freedom

Vocabulary p. 510

Context clues

When you read, you may come across words you don’t know. To figure out its meaning, look for clues, such as an explanation or definition, in the surrounding sentences or paragraph. Notice how vow is used in the paragraph on the next slide. What explanation or definition helps you figure out what it means?

Frederick Douglass

Frederick Douglass was born into slavery in 1817. In 1838, he escaped from his master and headed north. As Douglass reached the Massachusetts border, he quickened his pace. Suddenly, he was free, and he made a vow, a solemn promise, to help other runaway slaves. Douglass told the world about slavery. He spoke about slaves who were beaten unconscious in the fields of the plantation and about children who were taken from their mothers at the auction block. For over fifty years, he fought for liberty and justice for all Americans.

What is a meaningful sentence?

A sentence that helps you understand a vocabulary word.

Must have:

Capitalization ( 1 point)

Punctuation (1 point)

Part of the definition or a synonym (1 point)

Vocabulary word underlined ( 1 point)

Examples Non-examples

Abolitionists, or people who wanted to end slavery, fought for freedom for thousands of slaves. Slaves hoped that abolitionists, or people who wanted to abolish slavery, would help them become free.

Abolitionists hated slavery.

I like abolitionists.

Abolitionists are people who wanted to end slavery.

Liberty (noun)

Condition of being free; freedom; independence

The American colonies won their liberty.

Vow (noun)

A solemn promise

The bride and groom made their vows to love and honor each other.

Slavery (noun)

Practice of holding people against their will and forcing them to work without pay.

Slavery was banned many years ago.

Plantation ( noun)

A large farm or estate, especially in a tropical or subtropical region, on which cotton, tobacco, sugarcane, and the like are grown. The work on a plantation is done by laborers who live there.

Slavery was practiced on plantations so that the owners did not have to pay for workers.

Quickened (verb)

To move more quickly; hasten

He quickened his pace when the dog was chasing him.

Unconscious (adj)

Not conscious; not able to feel or think

She was knocked unconscious by the baseball.

Runaway (noun)

Running away; having run away

The runaway slaves were sometimes caught and beaten.