What was the extent of the Union's necessity for the South's agricultural resources? If the south wasn't as abundant in these resources would the Union have cared as much about getting them back?

How did other countries during and pre-civil war view the United States in terms of slavery?

What was the extent of the freed slaves dependency on former masters and was there a certain turning point at which this dependency began to decline?

What was Rose Williams’ life like after she was freed, after the civil war?

What were Black slave owners feelings about emancipation?

The book we're reading focuses a lot on Black slave owners, but in the large scheme of things how prevalent were Black slave owners?

How did the Black woman’s role in society change when all slaves were freed?

What is freedom? Is freedom what slaves are fighting for?

Why do people feel guilt? Do slave masters or white men who hate black men ever feel guilt? Is there a connection between hypocrisy and guilt?

Do slaves throw away their pride because of the conditions forced upon them, or because they accept that they are inferior?

Comparatively, did slave women have more power in the slave community than white women did in their community?

How much were free blacks discriminated against (former slaves vs. born free)

What was the percentage of people who owned slaves in the North?

How many years of work did it take for a slave to free themselves?

When slavery was abolished, was there a difference between freed slaves and blacks that had already been freed?

What is the origin of the Baptist religion?

Where does this idea that some skin colors are more inferior than others come from?

Do you think it was harder for blacks to be in slavery or to adapt to American culture afterwards?

Do you think slavery was a necessary transition into civilization?

How did the north support the south and slavery besides paying for the cotton and other products?

Is freedom power?

What was hypocrisy in the antebellum South?

Were there laws regulating the punishment of slaves? If there were laws, were they overlooked or enforced?

How much was slave insurance and how common was it? Why were women more interested in slave insurance versus men? And why did men not like it? Was it part of Maude's idea of keeping the legacy?

How common was it for foreigners to own slaves? Weren't other countries past having slaves? When did European countries stop using slaves for labor?

How often were slaves bought for purposes of breeding? Were men ever bought for Eugenics?

Was it common for people to stand for others rights to equality? White or Black

If you conform to another's beliefs will you gain power?

Do you leave behind integrity when you gain power?

What was the average price of a slave?

How was propaganda used on a plantation to keep slaves in line? How many plantation owners hired priest to come? How did the owners get the priest to instill slavery as part of religion?

What is the origin of the phrase: "according to the condition of the mother?" Was is legally binding? Was it ever violated?

How common were overseers to be women?

Did women work harder than men?

Were blacks used as scapegoats?

Moral implication aside, is oppression useful?

What were slave women like after slavery had ended, were their decision making skills affected (since they didn't have them too much beforehand)? What was their mindset?

Did Rose Williams appreciate and love her child from rape as much as if it had been her real child? Did she ever take out her anger on the child, like it was the reminder of her downfall?

What is love to slave owners? Is rape a business advancement or lust?

Did Rose Williams know that her relationship with Rufus wasn't normal, and if so why did she never give true love a chance?

Did people look at Rose Williams differently because of the things she went through? Did people think that she was weak? Were there stereotypes like "slut" in slavery? How did other slaves view Rose and the child?

How close is fictive kin in actuality?

Did slaves growing up in slavery feel like they were being treated unfairly, or was it just life to them?

What information did slaves have about slavery, and about the upcoming abolishment of slavery, as well as the world outside of slavery?

Did female slaves think that they were at a disadvantage or at an advantage on the plantation? (Looking back some women seem to have lots of advantages, however during the time period being a female was a disadvantage in itself)

Did all slaves make strives to stay positive, be happy, and live? Or were some depressed and upset, and took drastic measures to end their own lives?

How did slaves think of Lincoln? Was he their savior or were they aware of his hypocrisy? Did they know of him at all? How much and where did they get the information on this?