Freedom in Congo Square

High school (ages 12+)
History & Culture

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/freedom-in-congo-square

1. What is the geographic setting?
2. What is the primary demographic?
3. What was Congo Square and why was it special for enslaved people in New Orleans?
4. How did people in Congo Square make music and why was it important?

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. What is the geographic setting?New Orleans, Louisiana, United States, during the 19th century
2. What is the primary demographic?Enslaved Africans and their descendants
3. What was Congo Square and why was it special for enslaved people in New Orleans?Congo Square was a public space where enslaved Africans could gather on Sundays. It let them share music, dance, and stories, giving them a chance to feel free and keep their culture alive.
4. How did people in Congo Square make music and why was it important?They played drums, sang call‑and‑response songs, and used other instruments from West Africa. These sounds helped them remember their ancestors and build strong friendships.

Chattel slavery: A system where people are treated as personal property, bought and sold like goods.
Antebellum: Referring to the period in the Southern United States before the Civil War.
Locus of agency: A place or situation where individuals have the power to act and make choices.
Cultural continuity: The process of maintaining and passing down cultural traditions and practices over time.