In the Southern United States Before the Civil War, Gatherings

In the southern United States before the Civil War, gatherings of five or more slaves were forbidden unless a white person was present, because

A) these whites were actually covert anthropologists eager to study social relations during these politically difficult times.
B) resistance is most likely to be expressed openly when people are allowed to assemble.
C) some whites were eager to join the black slaves in their plans, some successful, in establishing free communities in isolated areas.
D) resistance was most likely to be expressed openly when black slaves were provoked by the presence of white persons.
E) white persons were curious about the use of the story of Moses that was popular among slaves at the time.