In colonial America, enslaved workers who received manumission purchased their freedom.
A. escaped to northern colonies.
B. were freed by slave owners.
C. became indentured servants.
The Correct Answer and Explanation is:
The correct answer is B. were freed by slave owners.
Explanation:
In colonial America, manumission was the legal act of a slave owner granting freedom to an enslaved person. This process could occur for various reasons, but it was typically a voluntary decision made by the slave owner. Manumission was not a uniform practice and depended heavily on the individual circumstances of the enslaved person and the attitudes of the slave owner.
In many cases, enslaved individuals could earn their freedom through manumission. Sometimes, this occurred after the enslaved person had served for a certain period or achieved a certain level of trust with the owner. In some cases, enslaved individuals could purchase their freedom if they were able to save money, often by working additional jobs or saving wages earned from specialized tasks. However, the ability to purchase one’s freedom was rare due to the harsh and restrictive conditions of slavery during colonial times.
Manumission could also occur for humanitarian reasons, though this was less common. Some owners may have freed slaves in their wills, providing that the individual be emancipated upon the owner’s death. For example, notable figures such as George Washington and Thomas Jefferson manumitted a portion of their enslaved workers, although many continued to hold others in bondage.
Manumission was often difficult to achieve, and many enslaved individuals remained in bondage for their entire lives. Laws regarding manumission varied by colony and changed over time. In some colonies, after the 18th century, laws were passed that restricted manumission or required freed individuals to leave the colony. For example, in some areas, freed slaves were required to leave the colony within a certain period, often to prevent them from mingling with the enslaved population.
Thus, while some enslaved individuals were able to secure their freedom through manumission, they were primarily freed by the decisions of the slave owners rather than by escaping or purchasing their freedom through other means.