Question

What did Douglass note regarding differences between city slaves and plantation slaves?

A) City slaves had more opportunities for education and freedom of movement.
B) Plantation slaves typically had better living conditions and were treated more kindly.
C) City slaves often faced more frequent and severe physical abuse and harsher working conditions.
D) Plantation slaves were more likely to be separated from their families and communities.

Answer 1

Douglass noted city slaves had more autonomy and better conditions, such as access to food and clothing, compared to those on plantations, who faced harsh working conditions with fewer opportunities for education and movement.

Step-by-step explanation:

Frederick Douglass noted significant differences between the experiences of city slaves and plantation slaves. City slaves had somewhat more autonomy and better conditions compared to plantation slaves. In cities, slaves often had better access to food and clothing and enjoyed certain privileges that were completely inaccessible to those on plantations. While slaves in urban settings were sometimes domestic servants living with their white slaveholders or working in various skilled roles, plantation slaves typically faced harsher working conditions and were much more isolated, with fewer opportunities for education and limited freedom of movement. Plantation life was characterized by rigorous labor, strict oversight, and fewer chances for acquiring skills or knowledge that could lead to better prospects or freedom. Moreover, the structure of the plantation economy generally aimed to deny slaves educational opportunities, although some managed to find 'hidden passages' to education and literacy.