Phillis Wheatly Review

When the enslaved Africans had children, what likely happened to the children?

• The children were taken from their mothers to be enslaved.

• The children were given to the mistress of the mansion where the enslaved persons worked.

• The children were slaughtered for fear of a rebellion.

• The children were allowed to remain with both enslaved parents on the plantation.

How does Phillis Wheatly arrive to Colonial America?

• Wheatly never lived in Colonial America.

• Wheatly is born in Colonial America as an enslaved person.

• Wheatly arrives to the New World on a slave trade ship that sailed across the Atlantic.

• Wheatly is born in Colonial America as a free woman.

When Phillis Wheatly wrote to Gen. George Washington during the Revolutionary War, she was emancipated and a free woman. She writes in support of Wahsington. What did Washington do?

• Washington ignored Wheatly and ordered his military to find Wheatly and her family.

• Washington responded in kind and changed his mind about enslaved people joining the Revolution in exchange for their freedom.

• Washington enslaved Wheatly.

• Washington died before he received Wheatly's letter.

True or False: The American white colonists believed that people from African descent could not learn.

• True

• False

Phillis Wheatly's name was given to her because...

• she arrived in America at age 9 and the family that took her in and enslaved her believed she resembled their former enslaved maid, "Phillis."

• she arrived in colonial America on the ship named, "Phillis," and the family that enslaved her had the family name of, "Wheatly."

• the family that enslaved Phillis could not think what to name her, so the mistress named Phillis after herself.

• Phillis' name traveled with her across the Atlantic and Phillis' tribe gave her the name.

Phillis Wheatly mastered the English language as an enslaved person in how much time?

• Wheatly was blind and mute; therefore, could not master any language.

• Wheatly mastered English after three years of arriving in the American colonies at the age of 12.

• Wheatly did not know how to read and write in English at all.

• Wheatly mastered the English language within 16 months from the time of her arrival at the age of 12.

Phillis begins writing poetry...

• while she is enslaved as a young girl.

• after she is freed from being enslaved as a young adult.

• during her travels on the Phillis ship from Africa.

• while she is engaged to her enslaved finance.

True or False: The Wheatly family supports Phillis' ability to write her poetry.

• True

• False

Who published Phillis Wheatly's first volume of poetry?

• Phillis self-published her poetry in 1773.

• The Wheatly family published Phillis' volume of poetry in 1604.

• Phillis Wheatly never publishes her volume of poetry while she is alive.

• The Wheatly family in 1773 while Phillis is still enslaved.

In additon to mastering the English language at an early age of 12, Phillis Wheatly also learned...

• how to sew and embroider her own clothes.

• how to dance.

• Greek and Latin.

• Roman numerals and Farsi.