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Difficulty: HardShipboard Rebellions and Middle Passage Resistance

Read the following excerpt from an account of the revolt on the sloop *Little George*, published in the *Boston News-Letter* in 1730:

'On the 6th of June... the captives, having found means to get out of their irons, rose upon us and made themselves masters of the vessel. They confined us in the cabin and proceeded to steer the sloop back to the River Sierra Leone... They shewed a surprising understanding of the winds and currents, navigating the vessel for several days until they ran her aground near the shore, where they all safely landed and escaped into the country, leaving us in possession of the vessel.'

Based on the excerpt, the actions of the captured Africans most directly challenge which of the following historical misconceptions?

  1. A
    The assertion that captives exclusively relied on covert and everyday forms of resistance, such as hunger strikes or cultural retention, to survive the Middle Passage.
  2. B
    The chronological assumption that organized shipboard mutinies did not occur until the nineteenth century with cases like the *Amistad* and *Creole*.
  3. The depiction of captive Africans during the Middle Passage as passive victims who lacked the organizational skills and technological knowledge to execute strategic rebellions.Answer
  4. D
    The view that captives on slave ships were unable to communicate or coordinate due to ethnic and linguistic differences, making shipboard rebellions rare.

Answer

The depiction of captive Africans during the Middle Passage as passive victims who lacked the organizational skills and technological knowledge to execute strategic rebellions.
The correct option is correct because the account of the *Little George* revolt directly demonstrates that captured Africans possessed the agency, organization, and maritime skills necessary to free themselves and successfully navigate a European vessel back to Africa. This refutes the historical narrative that captives were merely passive victims of the Middle Passage who were incapable of organized, technological resistance.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze the primary source text for evidence of captive actions and skills.
The text describes captives freeing themselves from irons, seizing control of the vessel, navigating it back to Sierra Leone using an understanding of winds and currents, and escaping.
This establishes the historical facts of the event and the specific capabilities demonstrated by the captives.
2
Identify the historical concept illustrated by these actions.
The actions demonstrate significant agency, coordination, and advanced maritime/technological skills (navigating by winds and currents).
This connects the source to the learning objective on Middle Passage resistance and agency.
3
Evaluate the choices to determine which historical misconception is directly refuted by this evidence.
The evidence directly refutes the misconception that captive Africans were passive victims without the agency or skills to resist or navigate European ships.
This identifies the correct option based on historical analysis and the core learning objective.

Key Concept

Transatlantic shipboard resistance and African agency during the Middle Passage
Estimated Time:2m 0s
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Topics

Shipboard Rebellions and Middle Passage Resistance

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