Choose the two sentences in this excerpt that best illustrate how slave owners made decisions regarding enslaved people based solely on economics.
1. Slaves typically ate a small breakfast and a late dinner in their own cabins.
2. Lunch was prepared by an older slave who worked in the main kitchen of the home.
3. The food was often the same each day, consisting of cornmeal, lard, peas, greens, molasses, flour, and whatever leftovers slave owners were willing to share.
4. One slave remembered a typical lunch on the plantation: “The peas, the beans, the turnips, the potatoes, all seasoned up with meats and sometimes a ham bone, was cooked in a big iron kettle and when mealtime come they all gathered around the pot for a-plenty of helpings!”
5. The amount of food provided to slaves depended on the slave owners, but many fed.
The two sentences that best illustrate how slave owners made decisions regarding enslaved people based solely on economics are:
3. “The food was often the same each day, consisting of cornmeal, lard, peas, greens, molasses, flour, and whatever leftovers slave owners were willing to share.”
5. “The amount of food provided to slaves depended on the slave owners, but many fed.”
Explanation: These sentences highlight the economic considerations of slave owners, as they indicate that the food provided was limited and repetitive, reflecting a calculation of minimum sustenance to maintain the enslaved individuals while minimizing costs. It shows that decisions about the enslaved people’s diets were based on financial considerations rather than their well-being.