Question

supporting a claim
background information: these are journal entries from john newton, a trader of enslaved persons. they were written in 1754
saturday 22 june
being pretty warm, got up the men and washed all the slaves with fresh water. i am much afraid of another ravage from the flux diarrheal infection, for we have had 8 taken within these few days.
thursday 27 june
when we were putting the slaves down in the evening, one that was sick jumped overboard. got him in again but he died immediately between his weakness and the salt water he had swallowed, tho i imagine he would have lived but a little while being quite worn out.
which of these claims is supported by evidence in both passages?
many enslaved persons died on the middle passage.
millions of africans were enslaved and sent to the americas.
the ships were overcrowded.
many of those enslaved chose to jump overboard.

Explanation:

• In the first passage, it mentions "8 taken within these few days" which implies deaths (due to the flux). In the second passage, a sick enslaved person dies (after jumping overboard and being retrieved). Both show that enslaved persons died during the Middle Passage.
• The second option about millions being enslaved is not supported by these two specific journal entries.
• There is no mention of ships being overcrowded in these entries.
• Only one instance of an enslaved person jumping overboard is mentioned, not "many".

Answer:

Many enslaved persons died on the Middle Passage.