4.2

 As we have learned, South Carolina is a great place for farming.  The type of soil, climate, and land supported farming (agriculture).  This was a great place for farming rice, cotton, and tobacco.  Slavery became an important part of that agricultural system.

 After the Revolutionary War, northern states began to pass laws that would gradually free, or emancipate, slaves.  The south, however, saw things much differently.  They saw slavery as an integral part of their way of life. 

 In 1793, Eli Whitney invented the cotton gin.  The cotton gin was a major invention because it made the process of de-seeding the cotton plant much easier and faster.  Now, instead of having slaves de-seed the cotton, they could put more slaves in the fields picking cotton.  More pickers, more cotton = more money!!!!

 Cotton became increasingly important to the economy of SC.  Plantation owners became even more dependent on slavery.  As a result of the cotton gin, many small farmers began to purchase slaves to keep up with the demand for cotton.  Farms began to move westward and so slavery began to expand (how do you think the North felt about this?)

 Because of all the planting, the fields were deprived of proper nutrients.  Many farmers were unaware of this problem.  They began to see less cotton produced in their fields because of this.