Students will launch the project by examining archival evidence, testing initial explanations for how racial slavery was sustained, and sketching connections between systems of control, cultural continuity, and resistance.

Students will investigate diverse archival evidence, test competing explanations for how racial slavery was sustained, and develop a preliminary systems model and historical argument that account for both structures of control and enslaved people’s agency.

Students will strengthen the historical accuracy, reasoning, and presentation quality of their systems exhibits and individual arguments through evidence audits, counterargument practice, multiple peer-feedback rounds, revision, and a graded readiness checkpoint.

Students will publicly defend their final multimedia systems exhibits and individual historical arguments, respond to audience questions, exchange evidence-focused feedback, and reflect on their learning and collaboration.