Why were slaves not allowed to read write or vote?

Slaves were not allowed to read, write, or vote as part of a systematic effort to maintain control and prevent rebellion. Literacy would empower enslaved individuals by providing them with knowledge and the ability to communicate, potentially organizing resistance against their oppressors. Denying them the right to vote further marginalized them, ensuring that they had no political power or representation, thereby reinforcing the institution of slavery. These restrictions were rooted in fear of insurrection and the desire to uphold a social hierarchy that favored slaveholders.