Chapter Chronology

Quiz for Historical Question: “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

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

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B.
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D.
Correct. The answer is d. Although Barrow whipped his slaves for many different reasons, including trying to run away and being disrespectful, the vast majority of all whippings he gave in 1840–1841—about 80 percent—were due to poor work. According to Barrow, poor work could include picking poor quality cotton, not picking enough cotton, or trying to avoid work altogether.
Incorrect. The answer is d. Although Barrow whipped his slaves for many different reasons, including trying to run away and being disrespectful, the vast majority of all whippings he gave in 1840–1841—about 80 percent—were due to poor work. According to Barrow, poor work could include picking poor quality cotton, not picking enough cotton, or trying to avoid work altogether.

Question

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

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B.
C.
D.
Correct. The answer is b. Whipping slaves in public places, and forcing other slaves to watch the whippings, was a way to turn a single whipping into a lesson for the whole plantation. Every slave was supposed to feel the agony of every whipping, giving Barrow greater disciplinary power over his slaves.
Incorrect. The answer is b. Whipping slaves in public places, and forcing other slaves to watch the whippings, was a way to turn a single whipping into a lesson for the whole plantation. Every slave was supposed to feel the agony of every whipping, giving Barrow greater disciplinary power over his slaves.

Question

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

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B.
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Correct. The answer is a. Although whippings were the most common form of punishment on Barrow’s plantation, he also used other punishments, including dog attacks, putting a slave in stocks or a plantation jail, or even shooting a slave. (It is likely that such shootings were intended to injure rather than to kill, since murdering a slave would mean a significant loss of property for Barrow.)
Incorrect. The answer is a. Although whippings were the most common form of punishment on Barrow’s plantation, he also used other punishments, including dog attacks, putting a slave in stocks or a plantation jail, or even shooting a slave. (It is likely that such shootings were intended to injure rather than to kill, since murdering a slave would mean a significant loss of property for Barrow.)

Question

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?

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B.
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D.
Correct. The answer is c. Between 1840–1841, about 80 percent of all field slaves on Barrow’s plantation were whipped, including 80 percent of the men and 70 percent of the women. Among those seventeen field slaves who were not whipped, most were either children or pregnant women. This suggests that pregnancy was one of the few reasons why an adult slave might avoid the lash, if only temporarily.
Incorrect. The answer is c. Between 1840–1841, about 80 percent of all field slaves on Barrow’s plantation were whipped, including 80 percent of the men and 70 percent of the women. Among those seventeen field slaves who were not whipped, most were either children or pregnant women. This suggests that pregnancy was one of the few reasons why an adult slave might avoid the lash, if only temporarily.

Question

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?

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B.
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D.
Correct. The answer is b. The vast majority of the whippings Barrow gave his slaves were for poor work habits or quality, and he whipped a slave approximately every four and a half days. This evidence strongly suggests that Barrow believed the most important purpose a slave served on his plantation was to provide labor, and that a slave’s value was based on the amount of profit the slave’s labor could create. This view was one he likely shared with his peers. The purpose of slavery was not, as some of its defenders argued, to civilize or tame slaves.
Incorrect. The answer is b. The vast majority of the whippings Barrow gave his slaves were for poor work habits or quality, and he whipped a slave approximately every four and a half days. This evidence strongly suggests that Barrow believed the most important purpose a slave served on his plantation was to provide labor, and that a slave’s value was based on the amount of profit the slave’s labor could create. This view was one he likely shared with his peers. The purpose of slavery was not, as some of its defenders argued, to civilize or tame slaves.