Question

What light does Northup's account shed on the biblical arguments that were traditionally used to justify the institution of slavery (refer to document 70 here if you need more information)?

Answer 1

Salomon Northup was an African American abolitionist who lived throughout the first half of the 19th century. He was a born as a free man. He is known for being the author of the book "Twelve Years as a Slave", which tells the history of his life during the years he was kidnapped and turned into a slave.

One of the biblical texts which Christians at the time used to justify slavery was Genesis IX, 18-27 which describes the exile of Ham during the events of "Noah's Arc". The belief is that Ham was then turned black and all of his descendants were made Africans.