Question
By 1804, every northern state had enacted anti-slavery laws. Yet in the decades to come, slavery remained very much alive in the North. The reason for this was that the anti-slavery laws called for a slow phasing out of slavery rather than its immediate abolition.
The first of these laws was Pennsylvania’s Gradual Abolition Act of 1780. The word “abolition” in its title was a euphemism; the legislation specified that enslaved persons born before the act's passage would remain enslaved for life. The act also sanctioned the automatic enslavement of children born to enslaved mothers, with eligibility for emancipation not occurring until age 28.
Other states followed suit with similar legislation. As a result slavery was legal in the North for longer than many people realize—continuing in some areas into the 1840s.
Under Pennsylvania’s Gradual Abolition Act, ________.
A
anyone already enslaved would remain enslaved
B
all enslaved persons would be eligible for emancipation at age 28
C
children of enslaved mothers would remain enslaved for life
D
children of enslaved mothers would gain freedom at age 18
The first of these laws was Pennsylvania’s Gradual Abolition Act of 1780. The word “abolition” in its title was a euphemism; the legislation specified that enslaved persons born before the act's passage would remain enslaved for life. The act also sanctioned the automatic enslavement of children born to enslaved mothers, with eligibility for emancipation not occurring until age 28.
Other states followed suit with similar legislation. As a result slavery was legal in the North for longer than many people realize—continuing in some areas into the 1840s.
Under Pennsylvania’s Gradual Abolition Act, ________.
A
anyone already enslaved would remain enslaved
B
all enslaved persons would be eligible for emancipation at age 28
C
children of enslaved mothers would remain enslaved for life
D
children of enslaved mothers would gain freedom at age 18
Answers
GPT-4o mini
The correct answer is:
**C** - children of enslaved mothers would remain enslaved for life
This is consistent with the information provided in the text, which states that the act sanctioned the automatic enslavement of children born to enslaved mothers, with eligibility for emancipation not occurring until age 28.
**C** - children of enslaved mothers would remain enslaved for life
This is consistent with the information provided in the text, which states that the act sanctioned the automatic enslavement of children born to enslaved mothers, with eligibility for emancipation not occurring until age 28.