Final answer:
Slave owners administered punishments to maintain control and prevent disobedience among enslaved people. They used psychological coercion, physical violence, and the threat of sale to assert their authority and instill fear. Punishments included whippings, torture devices, and the constant threat of separation from family and friends.
Step-by-step explanation:
Slaveholders administered punishments primarily to maintain control and prevent disobedience among enslaved people. These punishments were often carried out by the slave owner to assert their authority and reinforce the power dynamic between master and slave.
Slaveholders utilized psychological coercion and physical violence as means of discipline. The threat of selling enslaved individuals was an effective method of control. Whippings and other forms of physical punishment were commonly used, sometimes resulting in severe injury or death.
Punishment gear such as neck braces, balls and chains, leg irons, and paddles with holes were also employed to inflict pain and produce blood blisters. The constant fear of physical violence and separation from loved ones created a culture of terror and submission.