Study Guide for William Craft's Running a Thousand Miles to Freedom

William Craft's Running a Thousand Miles to Freedom is a powerful and moving memoir that recounts the harrowing journey of two slaves who escaped to freedom in the 1800s. Published in 1860, the book was an immediate bestseller and helped to raise awareness of the horrors of slavery.

This study guide provides an in-depth exploration of the book, including a summary, analysis, and discussion questions.

Study Guide for William Craft's Running a Thousand Miles for Freedom: Or, The Escape of William and Ellen Craft from Slavery (Course Hero Study Guides)

by Course Hero

4 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	1425 KB
Lending	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Print length	:	40 pages
Paperback	:	28 pages
Reading age	:	7 years and up
Item Weight	:	1.76 ounces
Dimensions	:	6 x 0.07 x 9 inches

FREE

Summary

The book begins with William Craft and his wife Ellen, two slaves living in Macon, Georgia. William is a skilled cabinetmaker, and Ellen is a seamstress. They have two children, William Jr. and Emily.

In 1848, William and Ellen decide to escape to freedom. They carefully plan their escape, and on a cold December night, they set out on foot.

The Crafts travel for weeks, hiding in forests and swamps during the day and walking at night. They face many challenges along the way, including hunger, exhaustion, and the constant fear of being caught.

Finally, after a thousand-mile journey, the Crafts reach Philadelphia, a free city. They are welcomed by abolitionists and begin to build a new life for themselves.

Analysis

Running a Thousand Miles to Freedom is a powerful story of courage, determination, and the indomitable spirit of the human soul. William and Ellen Craft's journey is an inspiration to us all, reminding us that no matter how difficult the challenges we face, we must never give up hope.

The book is also a valuable historical document, providing a firsthand account of the horrors of slavery. Craft's descriptions of the beatings, whippings, and other brutalities that slaves endured are both heartbreaking and infuriating.

Running a Thousand Miles to Freedom is a must-read for anyone who wants to understand the history of slavery in the United States. It is a powerful and moving story that will stay with you long after you finish reading it.

Discussion Questions

1. What were some of the challenges that William and Ellen Craft faced during their escape? 2. How did the Crafts' journey change their lives? 3. What does Running a Thousand Miles to Freedom tell us about the horrors of slavery? 4. What are some of the lessons that we can learn from the Crafts' story? 5. How can we apply the lessons from Running a Thousand Miles to Freedom to our own lives?

William Craft's Running a Thousand Miles to Freedom is a powerful and moving memoir that has inspired generations of readers. The book is a testament to the courage and determination of the human spirit, and it is a valuable historical document that provides a firsthand account of the horrors of slavery.

This study guide has provided an in-depth exploration of the book, including a summary, analysis, and discussion questions. We hope that you have found this guide helpful, and we encourage you to read Running a Thousand Miles to Freedom for yourself.

Study Guide for William Craft's Running a Thousand Miles for Freedom: Or, The Escape of William and Ellen Craft from Slavery (Course Hero Study Guides)

by Course Hero

4 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	1425 KB
Lending	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Print length	:	40 pages
Paperback	:	28 pages
Reading age	:	7 years and up
Item Weight	:	1.76 ounces
Dimensions	:	6 x 0.07 x 9 inches

FREE