Why was teaching slaves to read outlawed in many southern states?
Slaveowners knew full well that if a slave was taught to read, they would become less ignorant, more intelligent, and would also read what they considered “dangerous” literature about freedom and quality. If they were taught to read, slave owners reasoned, they would garner ideas and would be inspired to rebel . Slave owners had an all encompassing fear of a slave rebellion, so teaching a slave to read, possibly starting one, was outlawed.
