The Differences Slavery Made: A Close Analysis of Two American Communities

Slave Population Comparison, 1860

While Virginia and the Upper South's proportion of slaves in their total population declined from the 1830 to 1860, Augusta County's percentage of slaves in the total population remained steady around 20 percent from 1820 to 1860.

U.S. Census Office, Eighth Census [1860]. Population of the United States in 1860, Compiled from the Original Returns of the Eighth Census. Washington, D.C., 1864

Edward L. Ayers and William G. Thomas, III
Slave Population Comparison, 1860

Points of Analysis to this Data:

"Slavery was ubiquitous and systemic in Augusta County's economy and society. No town or place in Augusta was without slavery, no person distant from it. Slavery extended into every corner of the county, concentrating in no one area."


Citation: Key = E070
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