13. The Slave South, 1820

Chapter Chronology

Quiz for Making Historical Arguments: How Often Were Slaves Whipped?

Select the best answer for each question. Click the “submit” button for each question to turn in your work.

Question 13.6

1. What was the most common offense for which Bennet H. Barrow whipped his slaves between 1840 and 1841?

Trying to run away

Being disrespectful to Barrow

Coming home past curfew

Doing poor quality work

Question 13.7

2. Why might Bennet H. Barrow have decided to conduct most slave whippings in public spaces, as was the custom on many other plantations?

To ensure that whippings were done in a lawful manner

So that the whippings could be a lesson to other slaves, too

As a way to shame the slave who was being whipped

So that Barrow could charge local whites to come watch the whipping

Question 13.8

3. In addition to whippings, which of the following was another kind of punishment Barrow utilized on his plantation in 1840–1841?

Shooting slaves

Starving slaves

Selling slaves

Selling slaves’ children

Question 13.9

4. What does this essay suggest is one way a slave might have been able to avoid being whipped on Bennet H. Barrow’s plantation—aside from performing his or her work to Barrow’s satisfaction?

Being elderly

Serving Barrow’s wife

Being pregnant

Groveling for mercy

Question 13.10

5. Based on the reasons Barrow gave for whipping his slaves in 1840–1841, how did slave owners likely assess the value or purpose of their slaves?

Slaves were centrally understood to be reflections of their masters’ character, including their integrity and their Christian values.

Slaves were valued for their labor above all else, and for the profit they could bring to their masters through their physical labor.

Female slaves were valued for their ability to reproduce, therefore creating new slaves without requiring the master to make a sale.