Question

The same man also purchased Randall.... [Randall's

mother] kept on begging and beseeching them, most
piteously, not to separate the three. Over and over again
she told them how she loved her boy. A great many times
she repeated her former promises-how very faithful and
obedient she would be; how hard she would labor day
and night, to the last moment of her life, if he would only
buy them all together. But it was of no avail; the man
could not afford it.
-From Twelve Years a Slave,
Solomon Northup
Which statement summarizes how the institution of
slavery affected this family?
O The family was forced to separate.
The family was treated fairly and given their
freedom.
The mother promised that her son would work day
and night.
O The rules prevented the slaveholder from keeping
the family together.

Answer 1

The institution of slavery forced the family to separate.

Step-by-step explanation:

The institution of slavery affected this family by forcing them to separate. In the excerpt, Randall's mother pleads to keep the family together, but the man who purchased them cannot afford it. The rules of the institution of slavery prevented the slaveholder from keeping the family together, leading to their separation.

Learn more about The impact of the institution of slavery on a family