Final answer:
Slaveholders in the South used psychological coercion and physical violence to control slaves, with threats of sale and various brutal forms of physical punishment to maintain discipline and instill fear.
Step-by-step explanation:
One of the methods used to control slaves in the South was through psychological coercion and physical violence. Slaveholders would often threaten to sell slaves as a form of discipline.
Physical punishments were common, such as using the lash, which was not only effective but also efficient as it could incapacitate or kill a slave. Other forms of punishment gear included neck braces, balls and chains, leg irons, and paddles with holes designed to inflict severe pain and injury. These brutal methods instilled in slaves a constant terror of violence and the dreadful possibility of being separated from family and friends.