As a child, Venture was purchased by a slaveholder named Robertson Mumford. Mumford brought Venture to his home in Rhode Island. Venture was quiet and obeyed the orders he was given. But as he got older, he was less willing to let his slaveholder mistreat him. The fact that Venture grew to be a very big and strong man—6'1" and 230 pounds—enabled him to fight physically for his rights, but that was not the way to gain freedom in slave society. It was illegal—and often punishable by death—for enslaved people to physically attack white people. Venture had to be intelligent, brave, and trustworthy to win his freedom.
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The Life of Venture Smith
Click on the left to watch this video about how Venture began to resist slavery while still young.
How did Venture put himself in danger by resisting James Mumford's orders? Write your answer in one to two sentences.