Final answer:
Slave owners attempted to track down runaway slaves using patrols, surveillance systems, and psychological tactics such as physical punishment and threats of separation.
Step-by-step explanation:
Slave owners attempted to track down runaway slaves using various methods. One common method was the use of patrols and slave catchers. Slave owners or their agents would patrol the area or hire professional slave catchers to search for and capture runaways. These catchers would often rely on the assistance of local authorities and citizens to help in their efforts.
Another method used by slave owners was the implementation of strict surveillance systems on plantations. This involved monitoring the activities of enslaved individuals and closely watching their interactions with each other. In addition, slave owners would often offer rewards for the capture and return of fugitive slaves, which incentivized other individuals to aid in the search.
Slave owners also employed psychological tactics to discourage escapes. They would instill fear in their enslaved individuals by using physical punishment, such as whippings, as well as threatening to sell them or separate them from their families.