Final answer:
An elderly enslaved individual would likely be most apprehensive about freedom due to the challenges of adapting to new responsibilities, lack of strength to work, and deep-seated bonds with their former enslavers. The correct answer is option: a. an elderly enslaved.
Step-by-step explanation:
The individual most likely to be apprehensive about freedom after emancipation could be an elderly enslaved person. This apprehension is rooted in several factors. Elderly slaves would have the most challenging time adapting to a life of freedom, starting anew in a strange place, lacking the energy or ability to work for a living, and facing the enormity of change after potentially decades in bondage.
Additionally, deep bonds formed with the enslavers over a long period could make the thought of separation more difficult. Finally, the elderly would also experience a significant shifting of responsibilities, as they would need to care for themselves without the structure they were accustomed to.
The changes ensuing following emancipation were daunting, posing serious questions around securing a home, making a living, raising children, and integrating into society as a free person - challenges particularly pronounced for those who spent most of their lives enslaved.