How did the slave holders try to control African American in the south?

Slaveholders in the South used a combination of physical coercion, psychological manipulation, and legal restrictions to control African Americans. They employed brutal punishment and violence to instill fear, while also implementing strict slave codes that prohibited education, movement, and assembly. Additionally, they promoted a system of divide and rule, fostering mistrust among enslaved individuals to prevent rebellion and solidarity. This oppressive framework aimed to maintain their economic interests and social dominance.