Question

read the passage below, written by dr. james mccune smith, an american abolitionist. based on this excerpt, what could an american abolitionist claim about the haitian revolution to argue against slavery in the united states?

in regard to the army of toussaint, general lacroix, one of the planters who returned, affirms that never was a european army subjected to a more rigid discipline than that which was observed by the troops of toussaint. yet this army was converted by the commander-in-chief into industrious laborers, by the simple expedient of paying them for their labor. when he restored many of the planters to their estates, there was no restoration of their former property in human beings. no human being was to be bought or sold. severe tasks, flagellations, and scanty food were no longer to be endured. the planters were obliged to employ their laborers on the footing of hired servants.¹

1. james mccune smith, toussaint louverture and the haytian revolutions, february 26, 1841, louverture project, accessed may 2, 2013, http://thelouverureproject.org/index.php?title=toussaint_l327_ouverture_and_the_haytian_revolutions.

a. people work harder and do a better job when they are paid for their work.

b. enslaved people will revolt if slavery is not abolished immediately.

c. winning freedom for enslaved people will be simpler than previously believed.

d. planters will be unwilling to fight in order to keep their slaves.

Explanation:

The passage states that Toussaint's army became industrious laborers when paid for their labor, and planters had to employ laborers as hired servants (not slaves). This supports the idea that paid work leads to better effort, matching option A. Option B has no support (no mention of revolt threat), C is incorrect (the revolution was complex, not "simpler"), and D is unsupported (no info on planters' willingness to fight for slaves).

Answer:

A. People work harder and do a better job when they are paid for their work.