Many men, women, and children worked as slaves on large farms like this one.

Many men, women, and children worked as slaves on large farms like this one.

Historical Background

Slavery was not common in North America until 1793. That is when Eli Whitney invented a cotton gin. This machine made cotton a popular crop. Many people used slaves to work on their farms. In 1865, the Thirteenth Amendment made slavery against the law in the United States.

Cotton gin

Cotton gin

Before You Move On

  • 1. Paraphrase What was Henson’s life like? Tell about it in your own words.

  • 2. Cause and Effect What happened that made Henson decide to escape from the Riley farm?