A 1662 law changed the status of slavery in the colonies by decreeing that
A) a child followed his or her father's legal status.
B) a mixed-race child was considered a slave if one parent was enslaved.
C) a child followed his or her mother's legal status.
D) any child with African blood was considered a slave.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The 1662 law, known as the partus sequitur ventrem law, stated that a child's legal status followed that of the mother. This meant that any child born to an enslaved mother was also considered a slave, regardless of the father's status. This law played a significant role in perpetuating slavery in the American colonies by ensuring that the enslaved population would continue to grow through childbirth.

A 1662 Law Changed the Status of Slavery in the Colonies