Deck 11: Slaves and Masters, 1793-1861

Question 1

In African American families in which husband and wife were often separated, who was typically considered the head of the family?

A) the father
B) the mother
C) the oldest son
D) the oldest daughter
E) a grandparent

Answer 1

the mother

Question 2

Slaves usually named their children after________ , which illustrated the importance of ________ for African Americans.

A) their masters; the master-slave relationship
B) characters in folk tales; African culture
C) family members and ancestors; kinship
D) activists in the abolitionist movement; political involvement
E) famous figures; history and pop culture

Answer 2

family members and ancestors; kinship

Question 3

The typical runaway slave was________ .

A) a married man
B) a young, unmarried man
C) a married woman
D) a young, unmarried woman
E) a pregnant woman

Answer 3

a young, unmarried man

Question 4

Free blacks in the South were________ .

A) unable to own or operate small businesses
B) required to carry documentation of their free status at all times
C) given the same rights as free blacks in the North
D) allowed to hold meetings or form organizations as long as they had a white sponsor
E) free to move from one county or state to another

Question 5

Which practice provides the best evidence against the idea of benevolent planters who looked after the welfare of their slaves?

A) The masters of large plantations did not have relationships with most of their slaves.
B) Some planters subjected misbehaving slaves to physical punishment.
C) Planters often broke up families and sold family members to distant plantations.
D) Planters relied on fear as the foundation of their authority over their slaves.
E) Slaves were often expected to adopt an attitude of fondness toward their masters.

Question 6

Southern proslavery arguments included the belief that________ .

A) slavery was wrong, but necessary for the Southern economy
B) the Bible sanctioned slavery
C) slavery was mandated by the U.S. Constitution
D) sending slaves back to Africa would be too expensive
E) the social class structure of the South would collapse without slavery

Question 7

Southern apologists claimed the master-slave relationship was more humane than employer-worker relationships because it________ .

A) offered more opportunities for job training
B) was actually a freer relationship
C) emphasized cultural identities in a segregated environment
D) afforded greater long-term security
E) included women in the workforce

Question 8

Why did many yeoman farmers feel resentment toward rich planters, yet still support the institution of slavery?

A) These farmers feared that the government would give freed slaves their land if slavery were abolished.
B) Many poor white farmers also worked as overseers on large plantations.
C) Many rich planters gave poor white farmers slaves as gifts to maintain their good will.
D) Having slavery gave poor white farmers a feeling of social superiority over blacks.
E) Many poor white farmers secretly hoped to claim plantation land after slave rebellions.