Read the excerpt and answer the question that follows. When I recovered a little I found some black people about me, who I believed were some of those who brought me on board, and had been receiving their pay; they talked to me in order to cheer me, but all in vain. I asked them if we were not to be eaten by those white men with horrible looks, red faces, and loose hair. They told me I was not; and one of the crew brought me a small portion of spirituous liquor in a wine glass; but, being afraid of him, I would not take it out of his hand. One of the blacks therefore took it from him and gave it to me, and I took a little down my palate, which, instead of reviving me, as they thought it would, threw me into the greatest consternation at the strange feeling it produced, having never tasted any such liquor before. Soon after this, the blacks who brought me on board went off, and left me abandoned to despair. What role do you think the black people on the slave ship had that Equiano refers to in this excerpt?

The articles of confederation: article ii. each state retains its sovereignty =, freedom and independence, and every power, jurisdiction and right, which is not by this confederation expressly delegated to the united states, in congress assembled article iii. the said states hereby severally enter into a firm league of friendship with each other, for their common defence, the security of their liberties, and their mutual and general welfare, binding themselves to assist each other against all forced offered to, or attacks made upon them, or nay of them, on account of religion, sovereignty, trade or nay other pretence the united states, in congress assembled, shall never engage in a war.. nor enter into any treaties or alliances, nor coin money.. nor borrow money on the credit of the united states, nor appropriate money, nor agree upon the number of vessels of war to be built or purchased, or the number of land or sea forces to be raised, nor appoint a commander in chief of the army or navy, unless nine states assent approve to the same, nor shall a question on any other point, excerpt for adjourning from day to day, be determined, unless by the votes of a majority of the united states in congress assembled summary