Read the excerpt from The Land.

"Well, now, Mitchell," Hammond went on, "we rode over because we wanted to have a little talk with you."

"That's right," said George. "We understand that you been beating up on Paul there." I appreciated the fact that George was getting right to the heart of this matter. "Quite often, as a matter of fact."

Mitchell's grip tightened on the axe, but he said nothing. Why does Mitchell tighten his grip on the axe?

There were other boys too who picked on me, but Mitchell was the worst. I recall one time in particular when I was about nine or so and I was reading beside a creek on my daddy's land, and Mitchell came up from behind me and just whopped me on the head. For no reason. Just whopped me on the head! What kind of conflict is shown in this excerpt?

A social conflict usually

Knowing that The Land takes place in post–Civil War America provides the reader with

The historical context of post–Civil War America most affects the significance of which passage from The Land?

George lost patience and grasped the handle of Mitchell's axe. "Boy, you better answer!" he demanded, but Mitchell in a dangerous move yanked on the axe. George too yanked on the axe in an attempt to twist it from Mitchell's grasp, but then Hammond intervened, stepping between George and Mitchell. George's hand slipped from the axe, but he still tried to get at Mitchell. In the context of the post–Civil War America setting, Mitchell’s behavior could be considered