Question

First reason why the enslaved were banned from being literate.

A) Preservation of social order
B) Economic exploitation
C) Cultural suppression
D) Religious beliefs

Answer 1

The primary reason the enslaved were banned from being literate was to preserve social order, preventing them from questioning and resisting their subjugation and ensuring the continuation of the economic and social systems that benefitted slaveholders.

Step-by-step explanation:

The first reason why the enslaved were banned from being literate is A) Preservation of social order. Restricting literacy was a means to maintain control and prevent insurrections by keeping the enslaved population in ignorance.

Slaveholders believed that with education, enslaved people would be more likely to question and resist their captivity, potentially disrupting the economic and social structure that benefitted the slaveholders. This control extended to religious practices where biblical scripture was selected to reinforce subordination, and laws were enacted to prevent teaching slaves to read or write, with severe punishments for violation.

For instance, key historical figures like Frederick Douglass attested to the power of literacy as a pathway to freedom, and even his own narrative faced attempts to be suppressed.