Rabbit Hole

Charleston rapidly developed into the most rigorous slave society in North America, largely influenced by the Barbadian plantation model. They detail the legal frameworks established, including the explicit sanctioning of slavery in the Fundamental Constitutions and the adoption of a draconian slave code mirroring Barbados’s. The texts highlight the economic engine of rice and indigo, driven by the specialized knowledge of enslaved West Africans and managed through the task system, which offered limited autonomy but ensured brutal efficiency. Furthermore, the sources emphasize Charleston’s role as the largest port of entry for enslaved Africans in North America and how external pressures, such as the threat of freedom from Spanish Florida and the failed experiment of a slavery-free Georgia, solidified South Carolina’s commitment to its slave-based economy.