So, likely association between trade import/ exports and highest densities along the Mississippi River and ports of Southeast Texas and eastern seaboard.
Delta soil is some of the best around. It was a combination of many things. Rivers bring sediment to the soil (especially in large deltas, see Egypt), water to the populous, a window for trade. Civilization formed around them. You can see another black belt creating a bit of a U shape through Alabama, Georgia, and SC. Because of the good soil.
And you can even see the outline of a orehistoric seaboard too.
That dark swath going west to east through central Mississippi and Alabams. That was the coast back during the Mesozoic. The long term redult ofvthat coadtline was the laying down of soils that even millions of years later are extremely fertile and great for large scale agriculture. So a lot of plantstions along that old line.
The reason why West Virginia split off was political representation not because it was anti slavery. Abolitionism was rather rare in WV and slavery was an established and accepted institution in WV. So much so that West VA was the last slave state admitted to the Union in 1863.
I believe the governor was pro-secessionist but the initial vote to join the Confederacy failed. After Lincoln started calling for volunteers to join the army to put down the rebellion, the governor called for another vote which passed. They were the last state to secede
It was a pretty deeply split state. Its been awhile since I've studied it in depth but I think in western TN there were more enslaved people while eastern TN had very few. This seems to track with this map and also the topography of the state. East TN is way more mountainous than the west, and therefore not conducive to the type of large scale agriculture that slaveholders practiced.
This map shows really well why the five Border States stayed with the Union. Significantly less economically tied to the institution. Economic pressures and political pressure are hard to separate.
Oh don't be. I should probably have said what this map represents depresses me. The map itself is insightful. So much so that it inspired me to alert other researchers about it over on r/Genealogy .
So, likely association between trade import/ exports and highest densities along the Mississippi River and ports of Southeast Texas and eastern seaboard.
Plus fertile soil
Delta soil is some of the best around. It was a combination of many things. Rivers bring sediment to the soil (especially in large deltas, see Egypt), water to the populous, a window for trade. Civilization formed around them. You can see another black belt creating a bit of a U shape through Alabama, Georgia, and SC. Because of the good soil.
And you can even see the outline of a orehistoric seaboard too.
That dark swath going west to east through central Mississippi and Alabams. That was the coast back during the Mesozoic. The long term redult ofvthat coadtline was the laying down of soils that even millions of years later are extremely fertile and great for large scale agriculture. So a lot of plantstions along that old line.
Thanks! That’s helpful to know and explains the spot in north Louisiana apart from direct Mississippi River access.
It’s likely also frustrating to map poverty, education, and ethnicity over subsequent decades of time until now.
And election results
And the coastline ~100m years ago.
I blame the dinosaurs
This map perfectly illustrates why West Virginia split off from Virginia during the Civil War.
The reason why West Virginia split off was political representation not because it was anti slavery. Abolitionism was rather rare in WV and slavery was an established and accepted institution in WV. So much so that West VA was the last slave state admitted to the Union in 1863.
Though it makes me wonder why Tennessee cared that much. They actually look to have a fairly low amount of slaves compared to the other states.
I believe the governor was pro-secessionist but the initial vote to join the Confederacy failed. After Lincoln started calling for volunteers to join the army to put down the rebellion, the governor called for another vote which passed. They were the last state to secede
They fought for slavery while not having slaves? You have to be kidding me.
It was a pretty deeply split state. Its been awhile since I've studied it in depth but I think in western TN there were more enslaved people while eastern TN had very few. This seems to track with this map and also the topography of the state. East TN is way more mountainous than the west, and therefore not conducive to the type of large scale agriculture that slaveholders practiced.
Yet it's where the KKK was founded after the war. So, sentiment at least.
Wonder if they would’ve taken eastern KY with them too had Kentucky seceded from the Union.
This map shows really well why the five Border States stayed with the Union. Significantly less economically tied to the institution. Economic pressures and political pressure are hard to separate.
This just looks like all those map porn posts asking about “what is the real south?” Well… here it is 😂
A digital version (JPG & PDF) of the original is available on the US Census Bureau site:
https://www.census.gov/library/visualizations/1861/dec/distribution-of-slaves-in-1860.html
As a family genealogist, I know where some of my enslaver ancestors lived. This map depresses me.
I’m so sorry
Oh don't be. I should probably have said what this map represents depresses me. The map itself is insightful. So much so that it inspired me to alert other researchers about it over on r/Genealogy .
Mississippi’Land?
What's the reason for the fairly continuous dark belt that goes through northern Alabama and Georgia to the Carolinas? Climate?
I believe you are referring to the Mississippi Delta
The way it follows the Mississippi is wild
Your map needs the legend that tells what each of the colors means.
Bottom right. Sorry it's small
Interesting to see different county boundaries too