4. During the war, many Southerners were afraid that slaves would do which of the following?
Ojoin the Confederate army and leave the plantation
Orise up or escape to freedom
Oruin their businesses
Olearn to read and write
To determine the correct answer to this question, we can analyze the given options and understand the context of the American Civil War.
Option A: Join the Confederate army and leave the plantation
It is unlikely that many Southerners were afraid that slaves would join the Confederate army and leave the plantations. Slaves were primarily used for the labor-intensive tasks on plantations, and it was not common for them to be armed and trained for combat. Additionally, the Confederate army was primarily composed of white soldiers.
Option B: Rise up or escape to freedom
This option is a plausible fear that many Southerners had during the Civil War. Slavery was a deeply rooted institution in the South, and there were concerns that slaves would revolt against their owners or seize the opportunity presented by the war to escape and seek freedom in the North.
Option C: Ruin their businesses
The fear of slaves ruining their businesses is less likely to be a major concern during the war. The primary concern for southern plantation owners would have been the loss of free labor and the potential collapse of the plantation system if the institution of slavery were undermined.
Option D: Learn to read and write
While slave literacy was generally restricted in the South, it was not a widespread concern during the war. The fear of slaves learning to read and write may have existed, but it was not a pressing concern for most white Southerners during the Civil War.
Therefore, the correct answer is option B: Rise up or escape to freedom.