A 1722 account of an uprising aboard the English slave ship Ferrers off the coast of West Africa describes how captives 'found means to rid themselves of their irons, and having killed the captain... fought desperately to gain their freedom' before being suppressed by the crew. This account best serves as evidence of which of the following aspects of Middle Passage resistance?
- The active agency and strategic planning of captive Africans to seize control of vessels and resist enslavement.Answer
- BThe dependence of captive resistance on the assistance of sympathetic European crew members.
- CThe idea that captives only attempted rebellions after completing the Middle Passage and reaching American ports.
- DThe total effectiveness of physical restraints and shipboard surveillance in eliminating captive communication.
Answer
The active agency and strategic planning of captive Africans to seize control of vessels and resist enslavement.
The account of the uprising on the Ferrers shows that enslaved Africans actively worked to secure their freedom through coordinated and violent mutinies, demonstrating significant agency and resistance even under extreme confinement.
Step-by-Step Solution
Key Concept
Captive agency and active resistance on slave ships during the Middle Passage.