Had been present since the early 17th century
Since the new constitution it had started to die out
Slaves worked in tobacco, hemp, corn and livestock fields as well as in cotton
Some slaves earned enough to buy their freedom
Everyone‘s hours were very long including slaves
Slave families in their ‘cabins‘ were important institutions with a vibrant but limited social life
During this period African-American slavery got a new lease of life leading to increased conflict between north (against) and south (for) after 1850