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South Carolina – African-Americans – Slave PopulationSee also African-Americans - 1525-1865 Main Page Written by Michael Trinkley of the Chicora Foundation Growth of South Carolina's Slave PopulationSouth Carolina had a clear black majority from about 1708 through most of the eighteenth century. By 1720 there were approximately 18,000 people living in South Carolina – and 65% of these were African-Americans slaves. For example, in St James Goose Creek, a parish just north of Charles Towne, there were 535 whites and 2,027 black slaves.The following tables and the graph below them show how South Carolina's slave population grew to match the success of its rice culture. Whereas in 1790 there were slightly more whites than blacks living in South Carolina, by 1860 the black population had grown to more than double that of the white.
South Carolina's slave population compared to other statesSouth Carolina had a tremendous number of slaves, especially given its small size. In fact, by 1860 the only other states that had as many slaves were Georgia and Virginia – both of which were at least twice South Carolina's size!South Carolina's giant slave population was largely due to the lowcountry's suitability to rice culture. Rice was both incredibly labor intensive and incredibly profitable. So not only did rice planters need more help than other planters, they could afford it. Click here to see a map of the United States slave distribution in 1860. |
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