The Twenty Negro Law gave a draft exemption for one white man on each plantation that owned at least twenty slaves. This law was passed during the American Civil War to exempt the wealthy plantation owners from military service. It was criticized by many who believed that it was unfair and reflected the racism that was prevalent at the time.

Solved

The Twenty Negro Law

Question 20

Multiple Choice

A) replaced the three-fifths rule as the method of counting slaves for representation purposes.
B) gave a draft exemption for one white man on each plantation that owned at least twenty slaves.
C) provided that no more than twenty Negroes per week could be liberated by the Union Army.
D) assigned free blacks and fugitive slaves to white military units in groups of twenty or more.
E) required each plantation to sent twenty Negroes to help the army.

Correct Answer: