Analyzing the multifaceted impact of the transatlantic slave trade on the United States, ...

Economically, enslaved Africans powered the Southern agrarian economy, when businesses and landowners established a reliance on slavery for industries revolving around cotton picking and tobacco. In fact, cotton was the most important crop in the South before the American Civil War. Slaves usually worked all day picking cotton for their masters while overseers watched from their horses. Between 1790 and 1820, Cotton production in the South skyrocketed, growing from 5,000 bales in 1790 to 335,000 bales in 1820, thanks to a jump in world demand for the fiber and the introduction of the cotton gin. With increased production, more laborers are needed to pick cotton in the fields, fueling the importation of slaves.

Socially, slavery lead to racial hierarchies, fostering deep-rooted systemic racism that persists today. This institution not only affected the enslaved individuals but also created lasting divides between Black and white communities. And finally, politically, the contentious issue of slavery ignited tensions between the North and South, ultimately leading to the American Civil War (1861-1865). The struggle over the abolition of slavery and states' rights significantly influenced the nation's political course, leaving an indelible mark on the history of the United States.