Why did slavery continue after the Revolution?
A. Slave labor was important to the New England economy.
B. The colonial government encouraged manumission.
C. British, Loyalists, and Patriots all agreed that liberty did not extend to slaves.
D. The Southern plantation economy depended on slavery.
IDK
What does your book say?
To determine the correct answer, we can analyze each option:
A. Slave labor was important to the New England economy: While slavery did exist in New England, it was not as prevalent as in the Southern colonies. Therefore, this option may not fully explain why slavery continued after the Revolution.
B. The colonial government encouraged manumission: Manumission refers to the act of freeing slaves. While some individuals did free their slaves during this time, it was not a widespread practice supported by the colonial government. Therefore, this option may not fully explain why slavery continued.
C. British, Loyalists, and Patriots all agreed that liberty did not extend to slaves: During the Revolutionary War, both the British and Americans used slaves and promised them freedom in exchange for their service. However, after the Revolution, even though some Patriots fought for their own freedom, they did not extend the same rights to slaves. Therefore, this option provides a strong explanation as to why slavery continued.
D. The Southern plantation economy depended on slavery: This option is also a strong explanation. The Southern colonies relied heavily on agriculture, particularly tobacco, rice, and later cotton production, which required large amounts of labor. Slavery provided a cheap and abundant workforce necessary for maintaining the plantation system.
Based on the analysis, options C and D are the most plausible explanations for why slavery continued after the Revolution. Option D, "The Southern plantation economy depended on slavery," seems to be the most direct and accurate answer to the question.