Slavery Was An Important Part Of North Carolina s History

Slavery has been part of North Carolina’s history since the late 1600s and early 1700s when the Europeans settled. The majority of the first slaves brought to the colony were from Africa. North Carolina did not play a major role in the slave trade because of its geography, which made it dangerous for slave ships to land on the coast of North Carolina. Therefore, slave traders would port to the north or south, Richmond or Charleston. Slavery was an important part of North Carolina s history because it was such a big impact in America and their economy was mostly plantation based, which required massive amounts of slaves to work on fields. In 1729, when Carolina split into North and South, North Carolina had approximately 6,000 slaves, a†¦show more content†¦Most records indicate that young children were sold with their mothers, but there are several instances of single purchases of very young slaves. Because young slaves were seen as long-term investments, slaveholders often found that the lower purchasing prices for them more than compensated for the lack of any real productivity for several years. The nonagricultural activity that involved more slaves more profitably than any other was mining. In 1828 the discovery of gold along various streams in the South Mountains of Burke and Rutherford counties led to a gold rush in western North Carolina that lasted for about five years. Mining towns quickly sprang up as slave owners from eastern North Carolina and Virginia joined local masters in putting their slaves to work in the mines and along the streams. An observer at a Rutherford County mine saw slaves employed primarily in washingore. They appeared very submissive but were watched closely to prevent their secreting any pieces of gold they might find. The North Carolina Slave Code of 1715, was a law that defined the status of a slave and the rights and responsibilities of slave owners. Slaves were required to carry a ticket from their owner when ever they left the plantation. The ticket stated where they were traveling and for what reason. The law