12 Years A Slave Historical Accuracy

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The movie 12 Years a slave is based upon a true story, however is it truly accurate? 12 Years a Slave is a very historically accurate in its portrayal of the characters, events, and setting details of the Solomon Northup case. Solomon Northup indeed was a free man who lived in Northern New York, who was captured and lured into the South in 1841. Solomon and his brother grew up being free due to the death of their fathers master. He later then grew up and married Anne Hampton, to which later they would have three children while obtaining a career as a violinist and a handyman. Some also, think that he was from the area of the Erie Canal because “ it seems likely that he also worked on canal boats in the central and western regions of New York State” (Fisker). However, when Northup the was enslaved he went through a tremendous amount of hardships during. Whereas In 1853, “Northup was freed in 1853 with help from colleagues and friends” (Solomon Northup). When Northup and his family moved in order to Saratoga …show more content…

Yet, they live in Saratoga, New York 1841. It is next shown that two carnies approach Solomon wanting him to go to washington for work.. This is where he's lured with a good paying job. While they eat in Washington they encourage him to drink up; because this is how Solomon is drugged. According to research this has been shown to be accurate. Northup is later found in an underground room chained up, and he’s being told that he’s a runaway slave from Georgia. Even though, he pleads that he’s a free man from Saratoga he is whipped and beaten. Despite Solomon’s best efforts to come up a plan to go show his innocence he is shipped off onto a boat to be sold into Louisiana. When the slaves were sold some were put on display naked whereas other were ripped apart from their families; including both Solomon and