Slaves came into contact with white citizens on a daily basis. Whether performing tasks outlined by overseers or masters or even traveling with them when they went off to war, slaves were an important part of routine social interaction in much of the South. Despite the many close connections between slaves and the white population, slaveholders were always acutely aware of slaves’ desire for freedom. Laws of the era reveal the many ways interaction was regulated so as to prevent conspiracy for their escape or insurrection.
