Questions and Answers
In what year was Solomon Northup rescued from bondage?
January 1853
What was the name of Solomon Northup's father?
Mintus Northup
How did Northup's father become a free man?
His owner passed away and in his will he freed all of his slaves
When was Solomon Northup born?
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On what date did Solomon Northup's father die?
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What was Solomon's older brother's name?
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What was the 'ruling passion' of Solomon's youth?
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Who did Solomon marry on Christmas Day, 1829?
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In what city did Solomon Northup reside until spring of 1841?
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What are the names of Northup's three children?
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How does Solomon describe the appearance of Merill Brown?
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How does Solomon describe the appearance of Abram Hamilton?
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What metropolis did Solomon hope to visit when he accepted the offer to work for Brown and Hamilton?
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Why does Solomon write his wife to tell her that he was leaving Saratoga?
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In what city does Solomon witness one of Brown and Hamilton's performances?
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Why did Brown and Hamilton tell Solomon that he should procure free papers before leaving New York?
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How long did Solomon stay while in Philadelphia?
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At what hotel did Solomon stay while in Washington?
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How much money did Brown and Hamilton pay Solomon in Washington?
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What caused Solomon to start feeling ill?
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What happens after Solomon is told that it was necessary to go to a physician and procure some medicine?
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What is the meaning of 'fettered'?
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How does Solomon describe James H. Bush?
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Who was Theophilus Freeman?
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What is a 'lackey'?
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Williams' slave pen where Northup was held was within the very shadow of the Capitol?
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To what city did Burch tell Solomon he was going to send him?
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Burch claimed that Northup was a runaway from which state?
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What was (Ebenezer) Radburn's job (business)?
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How does Northup describe 'the paddle'?
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What is the cat-o'-nine-tails?
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According to Northup, which was more painful, the paddle or the rope?
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Describe the meal that Radburn brings to Northup.
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What advice does Clemens Ray offer to Northup?
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How did Burch come to own John Williams?
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Who was Randall?
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What types of questions did Ray and Williams ask about New York?
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How long did Northup remain in Williams' slave pen?
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Who was Emily?
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Who was Eliza?
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What was the name of Emily's father?
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Who delivered Eliza to Burch? Why was she shocked by this?
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Who was absent from the plantation when Jacob Brooks betrayed Eliza?
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Before boarding the tile boat, who is Northup handcuffed to?
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Why had John Williams been removed from the cell?
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How does the steamboat, upon which Northup is loaded, pay tribute to the tomb of Washington? What is the irony of this gesture?
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Why does Northup say that he envies the birds he sees along the river?
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What is the first stop the steamer makes after leaving Washington?
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What was the chief city of Virginia (in 1841)?
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How does Northup describe Mr. Goodin?
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Who was Robert? Where was he born?
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Why does Burch get upset when Northup tells Goodin that he has come from New York?
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To where does Clem Ray eventually escape? How does Northup learn about this?
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Onto what brig is Northup loaded in Richmond?
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What is Northup's impression of Maria?
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What was Arthur's occupation before he was kidnapped and enslaved?
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After leaving Norfolk, what appointment was given to Northup?
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How many times are slaves fed a day? At what times?
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What is the cause of Robert's death?
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To whom does Northup write a letter, stating he had been kidnapped?
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Who mailed Northup's letter?
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What good fortune does Arthur experience when they reach the levee?
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How does Northup describe the appearance of Theosophist Freeman?
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Why doesn't Northup answer when Freeman calls 'Platt' to come forward?
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According to Northup, at least how many slaves were being held in Freeman's slave pen?
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According to Northup, how did Mr. Theophilus Freeman prepare his slaves for the sales-room?
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What do Bob and Northup have in common?
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Why did scars on a slave's back hurt their sale values?
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What price does Freeman place on Northup?
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Why were David and Caroline pleased when they were sold?
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Why was Eliza so upset when Randell was sold?
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Who tells Northup that he has contracted small pox?
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Why did Northup believe that he was going to die?
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How much is Northup eventually sold for?
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What was Eliza sold for?
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Why won't Freeman sell Emily?
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What was the name of the steamboat that Northup boarded when leaving New Orleans?
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Who is Northup's new master?
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How does Northup describe his master?
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What slave name was given to Eliza?
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How far was Ford's plantation from Lamourie?
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Name at least three types of trees that can be found in the 'pine woods'.
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Describe the appearance of William Ford's residence.
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What type of work does Northup perform for most of the summer?
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Master Ford allowed his slaves to have Bibles?
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Why was 'Ford's Platt' pronounced the 'smarter n' in the Pine Woods?
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Who was Cascalla?
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Why was William Ford forced to dispose of 18 of his slaves?
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To whom was Northup sold?
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How much was the chattel mortgage that Ford took out on Northup?
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How far was Bayou Boeuf from the Pine Woods?
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Upon arriving at Bayou Boeuf, who does Northup meet?
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Why was Eliza sent to work in the fields?
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Who was Mr. Chapin?
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What name was given to the residence of Chapin?
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Why does Tibets want to whip Northup?
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What happens when Tibets tries to whip Northup?
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What instructions does Chapin give to Northup after Tibets departs on the road for Cheneyville?
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What do Tibets and his two men intend to do with Northup?
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How does Chapin prevent Northup from being killed?
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Study Notes
Solomon Northup's Background
- Solomon Northup was born in July 1808.
- His father, Mintus Northup, was freed due to his owner's will upon the owner's death.
- Northup's family included his wife, Anne Hampton, whom he married on Christmas Day 1829, and three children: Elizabeth, Margaret, and Alonzo.
Early Life and Career
- Northup lived in Saratoga until Spring 1841, working as a free man and a violinist, his youthful passion.
- His older brother was named Joseph.
Kidnapping and Enslavement
- Northup was deceived by Brown and Hamilton, whom he worked for, into traveling to Washington, D.C., a slave state.
- He was advised to secure free papers before leaving New York.
- After arriving in Washington, Northup was drugged, captured, and later described as “fettered,” meaning he was handcuffed and chained.
- He witnessed a performance in Albany, New York, before being illegally sold into slavery.
Experiences as a Slave
- Northup described the cruelties of slavery, including the paddle and the cat-o'-nine-tails as tools of punishment.
- He encountered fellow slaves, including Elmira, the daughter of Eliza, and Randall, Eliza's son.
- Northup spent two weeks in Williams' slave pen before being sold for $1,000.
- Eliza, Northup's fellow slave, was distraught when her son Randell was sold, showcasing the emotional toll of slavery.
Masters and Life on Plantations
- Northup's first master was William Ford, described as a kind and good Christian man.
- Work included chopping logs, and he later became the superintendent of the cooking department.
- Ford's plantation was noted for its specific tree types, including white oaks and yellow ponds.
- Northup was sold to Tibets due to Ford's debt and came into conflict with Tibets and his overseers.
Escape and Rescue Efforts
- Northup put himself at risk, fighting back against abusive overseers and defying orders to not fear or run.
- A letter written to Henry B. Northup led to a rescue effort, where two men eventually freed him.
- Clem Ray, Northup's confidant, successfully escaped to Canada, further demonstrating the dangers faced by free blacks and enslaved individuals.
Denial of Identity and Struggles
- Northup struggled with his identity as he was called "Platt," a name he refused to respond to because it was not his true name.
- Over 50 slaves were held in Theophilus Freeman's slave pen, where Northup experienced the grim reality of the slave market.
Historical Context of Slavery
- The narrative describes the emotional and physical struggles of slaves and addresses legal constraints and economic exploitation during the era.
- The classification of slaves by value and their treatment reflected the broader systemic issues of slavery, emphasizing the lack of human rights and dignity.
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Test your knowledge of the first eleven chapters of '12 Years a Slave' with these flashcards. Explore key dates, names, and events that shaped Solomon Northup's life and experiences. Ideal for students or anyone interested in American history and literature.