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Enslaved people weren't allowed to read and write because if they did no how to do so, they would be able to defend themselves. For example, they could point out in some document that their masters weren't treating them right.
The fear of an uprising would occur if the slaves could communicate and plan. If they had the abillity to read and write that would only make them a larger threat because knowledge is power.
The reason it was a crime to teach slaves to read was because they would learn how to fight back against their owners. Having knowledge is the ultimate power.
It might have given the slaves a chance to feel a bit of power. Slaves' main purposes were, obviously, to be their owner's slave. There was no reason for them to know how to read and write.

Also, it might have given them a chance to send a letter to someone for help. My guess is the owners thought it could lead to something like the underground railroad.

Some slaves taught themselves how to read and write, but they themselves still received a whipping.

Hope I helped(:

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What laws prohibitited enslaved africans from learning to read or write?

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Laws such as the Slave Codes and later Black Codes in the United States prohibited enslaved Africans from learning to read or write. These laws were used to maintain control over enslaved individuals and prevent them from gaining knowledge and autonomy.


What laws prohibited enslaved Africans form learning to read or write?

Various laws in the southern United States, such as the "slave codes," prohibited enslaved Africans from learning to read or write. These laws were put in place to prevent enslaved individuals from organizing, communicating, and seeking freedom. Enslaved Africans who were caught attempting to learn were often severely punished, sometimes even facing death.


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Slave codes were laws that regulated the behavior and treatment of enslaved people. They restricted their movements, prohibited them from learning to read and write, and limited their activities. These codes aimed to control the enslaved population and ensure obedience and productivity.


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The slave code, i go to connections too:)


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