History of the United States I / Unit 12 USH1 1658 short lesson, about 20 seconds
The Quota
Captions available
The idea
Planters expected a good hand, meaning an enslaved labourer, to work ten acres of land and pick two hundred pounds of cotton a day.
In practice
An overseer weighing each person's individual daily yield against that expectation.
Where people slip
Some overseers whipped those who picked less than the daily quota required of them.
Your place on the trail
Every lesson rests on earlier ones and opens later ones. Tap any to jump.
Builds on
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