In the earlier years of American colonialism, slavery was not very common because of the dependence on indentured servants. However, as indentured servitude became a less reliable source of labor, southern plantation owners turned to slave labor. Economic, geographic, and social factors all contributed to the growth and spread of slavery in the southern colonies between 1607 and 1775.
The growth of the economy in the Americas made slaves an essential part of the labor force during that time period. As plantation owners in the south were becoming richer and wealthier with their successful cash crops such as tobacco and rice, they were able to actually afford the rare and expensive African slaves. …
