12 YEARS A SLAVE

SOLOMON NORTHUP
The son of an emancipated slave, Northup was born
free. He was a multifaceted laborer and also an
accomplished violin player.

In 1841, two men offered him work playing in a

circus, so he traveled with them to Washington,
D.C., where he was drugged, kidnapped, and
subsequently sold as a slave into the Red River
region of Louisiana.

In January 1853, Northup was finally freed by his

friend who came to his rescue. He returned home to
his family in New York and there, with the help of
editor wrote his book
In Twelve Years a Slave,  Solomon Northup, gives
the reader graphic descriptions of the physical,
sexual, and psychological violence inflicted on
slaves by slave traders and slaveholders.

Working and living conditions are inhumane, and

female slaves are regularly subjected to sexual
violence.

Psychological violence is also a factor in the lives

of slaves who are continually kept in a state of fear.
 Climax 1. Solomon Northup is born in Minerva, New York
2. Northup is kidnapped by two men and bought by
8 James Burch
3. Northup is taken by boat to Louisiana and renamed

Fal
7 Platt
9

ling
4. Northup works at Ford's mill and meets Tibeats.
n

Act
6 5. Tibeats buys Northup and tries to lynch him but is
tio
Ac

ion
stopped
ing

5 10 6. Eliza dies, and Tibeats sells Northup to Epps.

Ri s

7. Epps hires out Northup, gets Northup a violin, and

4 11 beats Patsey
8. Bass returns to Epps's and promises to free
Resolution Northup.
3
9. Henry Northup finds Northup through Bass and
frees him.
2
10. Henry Northup takes Burch to court, but Burch is
1
acquitted.
Introduction 11. Northup reunites with his wife, daughters, and new
grandson
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