Final answer:
The common duties of a plantation mistress included managing the household, overseeing domestic tasks, and preserving Southern culture.
Step-by-step explanation:
The common duties of a plantation mistress included managing the household, overseeing domestic tasks such as cooking, cleaning, and childcare, and supervising enslaved workers.
Plantation mistresses were responsible for maintaining social appearances and ensuring the smooth running of the plantation. They also played a key role in preserving Southern culture and traditions. For example, they organized social events, educated their own children, and upheld the expectations of femininity during the time.