Question

What made it a crime to teach enslaved people to read or write

Answer 1

Slave masters and those in power didn't want their slaves to have an education for a couple of reasons:
1. They wanted to keep the better jobs (which generally required more education) among the white population.
2. An educated slave would have more power to revolt against their masters, and they would be able to communicate their rebellious ideas through books and letters rather than by word of mouth.

Answer 2

It was a crime bc if they learned how to read or write they would be intelligent, and have more power. they would try escaping or outsmarting the owners.