Question

questions 21 through 24 refer to the following.
antebellum planters... were very interested in the control of black movement. they were
also keen to master their slaves senses of pleasure. seeking to contain african
americans even further than laws, curfews, bells, horns, and patrols already did, some
planters used plantation parties as a paternalist mechanism of social control. plantation
parties, which carefully doled out joy on saturday nights and holidays, were intended to
seem benevolent and to inspire respect, gratitude, deference, and importantly, obedience...
the most important component of paternalistic plantation parties was the legitimating
presence of the master.

• yet again and again, slaves sought out illicit, secular gatherings of their own creation.

they disregarded curfews and pass laws to escape to secret parties where... pleasures
such as drinking, eating, dancing, and dressing up were the main amusements...

• in the context of enslavement, such exhilarating pleasure... must be understood as

important and meaningful enjoyment, as personal expression, and as oppositional.
stephanie m. h. camp, historian, closer to freedom: enslaved women and everyday
resistance in the plantation south, 2004
21 mark for review
which of the following does the author use as evidence to support her argument that
slaveholders were keen to master their slaves senses of pleasure?
a slaveholders held parties to encourage the loyalty of the
enslaved.
b slaveholders regularly listened to and slave spirituals with
enslaved people.
c enslaved african americans held their own illicit parties.
d enslaved african americans regularly broke curfews and
violated pass laws

Explanation:

The text mentions that "planters used plantation [parties] as a paternalist mechanism of social control. Plantation parties, which carefully doled out joy on Saturday nights and holidays, were intended to seem benevolent and to inspire respect, gratitude, deference, and importantly, obedience... The most important component of paternalistic plantation parties was the legitimating presence of the master". This shows that slaveholders held parties to encourage loyalty (through creating a sense of "respect, gratitude, deference, and... obedience") which is related to controlling slaves' "senses of pleasure" (as the parties provided a form of "joy" but in a controlled way).

Answer:

A. Slaveholders held parties to encourage the loyalty of the enslaved.