In the sugar colonies, the wounds of slavery were never far beneath the surface. The Africans who had worked in sugar quickly left the plantations and tried to farm or moved to nearby towns. As one planter said, it made no sense to believe that "the Negro would become a grateful and cheerful free laborer on the soil which had been watered by his tears in slavery.” But what could the former slaves do? Every Indian who accepted the paltry wages specified in the indenture contract lowered the price an African could charge for his labor.
Which question does this passage answer most effectively?
Why did Indians come to work on the plantations?
Why did Africans leave the plantations to farm elsewhere?
Why did the Indians accept low wages for work on plantations?
Why did indenture contracts include low wages for Africans?
1 answer
The passage most effectively answers the question: Why did Africans leave the plantations to farm elsewhere?
The passage discusses the dissatisfaction and motivations of Africans who had worked in sugar colonies, highlighting their efforts to escape the conditions of slavery and seek better opportunities.
