Question

Task labor is ______.

1) a name for tasking the abilities of slaves; it was very difficult, complicated work.
2) an acronym for Take All Southerners' Knives, a secret organization of slaves planning an insurrection.
3) controlled by an overseer.
4) allowed slaves to take on daily jobs, set their own pace, and work on their own when they were done.
5) the most common form of slave labor organization in the South.

Answer 1

Task labor is allowed slaves to take on daily jobs, set their own pace, and work on their own when they were done. Option 4 is correct.

Step-by-step explanation:

Task labor, the most common form of slave labor organization in the South, involved assigning slaves specific daily tasks rather than continuous, fixed work hours. This system allowed slaves some flexibility in completing their work, as they could set their pace and, upon finishing their assigned tasks, were free to tend to personal matters. It differed from the harsher gang labor system where slaves toiled for set hours under the constant supervision of an overseer.

Under task labor, slaves often worked independently after completing their tasks, giving them a sense of autonomy in managing their time. This setup, however, didn't negate the overarching control of the plantation owner or the institution of slavery itself, as their labor was still under the ownership and direction of the enslaver.

Correct Answer: 4) allowed slaves to take on daily jobs, set their own pace, and work on their own when they were done.