Slavery in the British Colonies Practice Test

Secondary source excerpt (1607–1754): By the early 1700s, Virginia and Maryland statutes tied slave status to the condition of the mother (partus sequitur ventrem), ensuring children born to enslaved women were enslaved. Legislatures also restricted interracial marriage and limited enslaved people’s access to courts. These measures stabilized planters’ labor forces and protected investments. Which statement best explains the primary consequence of these legal changes?

Secondary source excerpt (1607–1754): Enslaved Africans brought agricultural knowledge, languages, and religious practices that shaped colonial culture. Despite coercion, enslaved communities formed kin networks, adapted Christianity, and maintained African traditions, especially in lowcountry regions with large African-born populations. Which statement best characterizes enslaved life suggested by the excerpt?