Question

guided practice: read the quote. with your group figure out the meaning of the quote and what infers about the confederates beliefs about african - americans.

\free black people... shall be placed on the slave status, and be deemed to be chattels forever.\ - jefferson davis, 1863

\all negroes... taken in any of the states in which slavery does not now exist... shall occupy slave status.\

\the owners offered fewer than 1,000 slaves... although they were asked for 2,500.\

\this 20 negro law... exempted men who owned 20 or more slaves from military service.\

Explanation:

1. First Quote:

• What the Text Says Explicitly: Free black people are to be made slaves (placed on slave status) and considered property (chattels) forever.
• Inference About Confederate Beliefs: Confederates saw African - Americans (even free ones) as property rather than as free human beings with rights. They believed African - Americans were inferior and should be in a state of servitude.

1. Second Quote:

• What the Text Says Explicitly: All negroes (African - Americans) taken in non - slavery states should be made slaves.
• Inference About Confederate Beliefs: Confederates had a broad - reaching view that African - Americans were meant to be slaves, regardless of the state's previous stance on slavery. It shows a lack of recognition of African - Americans as free individuals in any context.

1. Third Quote:

• What the Text Says Explicitly: Slave owners offered fewer slaves (less than 1000) when asked for 2500.
• Inference About Confederate Beliefs: Slaves were seen as a valuable resource (like a commodity). The reluctance to offer more slaves indicates that they were not just workers but something of significant economic and perhaps even social value to the slave - owning Confederates.

1. Fourth Quote:

• What the Text Says Explicitly: The '20 negro law' exempted men with 20 or more slaves from military service.
• Inference About Confederate Beliefs: Slaves were so central to the Confederate social and economic structure that having a certain number of them (20 or more) was a more important criteria (for exemption) than military duty. It implies that African - Americans (as slaves) were seen as a foundation for the Confederate way of life (e.g., economic production on plantations), more important than fighting in the war for some.

Answer:

1. First Quote:

• Explicit: Free black people to be slaves and chattels.
• Inference: Saw African - Americans as property, inferior.

1. Second Quote:

• Explicit: Negroes in non - slavery states to be slaves.
• Inference: No recognition of African - Americans as free anywhere.

1. Third Quote:

• Explicit: Fewer slaves offered than requested.
• Inference: Slaves as valuable commodity/resources.

1. Fourth Quote:

• Explicit: 20 + slave owners exempt from military.
• Inference: Slaves (African - Americans) as core to Confederate life (more than war for some).