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Slavery in South Carolina

Learn about the economics and hardships of slavery in South Carolina

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 When Rice Was King (12): Slave Treatment And Resistance 12

Video

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When Rice Was King (12): Slave Treatment And Resistance
Episode 12
Plantation owners demanded more than just obedience from their slaves. They also demanded things like loyalty, respect, love, and duty. Whippings, and solitary confinement, were common punishments for...
 When Rice Was King (7): Georgetown 7

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When Rice Was King (7): Georgetown
Episode 7
By 1800, Georgetown was known as the land where planters all made fortunes with rice plantations. In 1839, Georgetown alone produced nearly half of America's Rice.
 When Rice Was King (6): Tidal Irrigation 6

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When Rice Was King (6): Tidal Irrigation
Episode 6
Planters made the transition from swamp based rice-growing, to using tidal irrigation. With tidal irrigation, planters used a series of dikes and dams to control the flow of water into rice fields.
 When Rice Was King (11): Dangers To The Rice Crop 11

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When Rice Was King (11): Dangers To The Rice Crop
Episode 11
Several dangers to rice crops included hurricanes, floods from the mountains, and swollen rivers. Damage ranged from minor, to total devastation. Animals, such as rice weevils, crows, and ducks, also...
 When Rice Was King: Intro 1

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When Rice Was King: Intro
Episode 1
Before the American Revolution, the 300 mile coast line of South Carolina was known as the "Kingdom of Rice." Charleston was considered the richest city in Colonial America.
 When Rice Was King (14): Decline Of Rice Economy 14

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When Rice Was King (14): Decline Of Rice Economy
Episode 14
The Civil War marked the beginning of the decline of rice in South Carolina. Although planters continued growing rice during the Civil War, Georgetown experienced an economic down-turn as a result of...
 When Rice Was King (10): Slave Lifestyle 10

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When Rice Was King (10): Slave Lifestyle
Episode 10
An essay called "The Successful Planter," published in 1832, outlined a system of every day life for slaves living on plantations. State law in the 1830s forbade the education of slaves, but many...
 When Rice Was King (5): African Origins Of Rice 5

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When Rice Was King (5): African Origins Of Rice
Episode 5
"Saltwater Slaves" brought over from Africa, became highly sought-after, since many of them already had experience growing rice before being brought over to the "New World."
 Supply And Demand For Cotton  | Walter Edgar's Journal

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Supply And Demand For Cotton | Walter Edgar's Journal
Episode 6
With the success of cotton in South Carolina, entrepreneurs in other states looked to cash in on the success of cotton plantations. When the cotton economy and market-shares begin to decline in S.C...
 The Rise Of Cotton In SC | Walter Edgar's Journal

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The Rise Of Cotton In SC | Walter Edgar's Journal
Episode 5
With the invention of the “Cotton Gin” by Eli Whitney, combined with methods we would today call “scientific plant breeding,” the cotton industry boomed in South Carolina, in the early 19th century...
 South Carolina's Economy In 1763 | Walter Edgar's Journal

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South Carolina's Economy In 1763 | Walter Edgar's Journal
Episode 1
In this first segment on ‘The Importance of Cotton,’ Dr. Peter Coclanis gives us a brief overview of South Carolina’s economic landscape, pre-Revolutionary War (1763). Before the American Revolution...
 The Heyward Brothers | Walter Edgar's Journal

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The Heyward Brothers | Walter Edgar's Journal
Episode 3
In this segment, Walter Edgar discusses the Heyward Brothers, and their method of digging “rice dikes” for growing rice. The Heyward Brothers are seen as the pioneers of the tidal cultivation in South...
 South Carolina's Slave Codes | Walter Edgar's Journal

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South Carolina's Slave Codes | Walter Edgar's Journal
Episode 4
Dr. Watson outlines the South Carolina Slave Code, originating with the 1740 “Negro Act.” The code is the system of etiquette for slave life, and penalties for various offenses.