Newton Knight: Fighting the Confederacy

Newton Knight, a Mississippi farmer, initially joined the Confederate Army during the American Civil War. However, as the war progressed, he opposed slavery and deserted the army. After being imprisoned, he formed the Night Company, a group of deserters and escaped slaves, to fight against the Confederacy. Knight's actions were controversial, with some viewing him as a traitor and others as a hero. He lived his life according to his principles, starting a family with a formerly enslaved woman and leaving a complex legacy.

What was the primary reason for the conflict between the Confederate and Unionist states during the American Civil War?

• Economic differences

• Territorial expansion

• Slavery

• Political power

What action did Newton Knight take as the war turned in favor of the North?

• He led a charge against the Union

• He deserted the Confederate Army

• He became a spy for the Union

• He negotiated peace talks

What was the Night Company?

• A group of Confederate loyalists

• A band of Union soldiers

• A guerrilla group of deserters and escaped slaves

• A secret society of plantation owners

How did Newton Knight defy Mississippi law after the Civil War?

• By running for political office

• By starting a family with a formerly enslaved woman

• By refusing to pay taxes

• By starting a business with Union soldiers

How is Newton Knight viewed by different people today?

• As both a traitor and a hero

• As a Confederate hero

• As a Union general

• As a forgotten figure