Fifth Grade
Worksheets
Immigrants Against Their Will
Immigrants came to America for many reasons. Most came to make a better life for themselves. Some came for religious freedom. There was one group, however, that came against their will. These were the African Americans.
African Americans began coming to America when the first colonies were settled. At this time, Africa had many cultures. Inland, there were large cities. They were educational centers. The capital of Benin was one of the largest cities in the world. There were huge kingdoms in Africa.
Along the edges of the continent, people lived in small villages. Over 800 languages were spoken. There was a strong sense of community. People helped each other. They worked together to feed the whole village.
Beginning in the 16th century, large numbers of Africans were kidnapped. In West Africa, many villages were affected. Slaves were taken by other Africans and delivered to Europeans.
