______ we’re passed to keep enslaved African-Americans from running away or rebelling
Various methods were used to keep enslaved African-Americans from running away or rebelling, including:
1. Physical restraint: Enslaved individuals were often shackled, chained, or had iron collars locked around their necks to prevent escape.
2. Slave patrols: Organized groups of white men known as slave patrols were formed to monitor and apprehend runaway slaves. They operated under the authority of local governments.
3. Punishments: Enslaved individuals who attempted to escape or rebel often faced severe physical punishments, such as whipping, branding, or even amputation of limbs.
4. Harsh living conditions: Enslaved individuals were typically housed in cramped and overcrowded quarters with minimal privacy and poor living conditions, making it difficult for them to organize or plan escapes.
5. Surveillance and informants: Slaveowners often employed overseers or other enslaved individuals as informants to report any signs of escape plans or rebellion.
6. Systemic oppression and fear: Enslaved individuals were constantly subjected to various forms of psychological torture and intimidation, such as fear tactics, threats of violence, and the separation of families, to discourage escape attempts or rebellion.
It is crucial to recognize the inhumane and brutal nature of these practices, which formed part of a deeply entrenched system of racial oppression and control.