Why+did+slavery+grow+to+such+an+important+institution+in+Colonial+America,+and+how+did+it+divide+North+and+South+in+Colonial+America?

Slavery in Colonial America grew into a very important institution and divided the North and South colonies of America. African Slaves were immune to the most deadly diseases that white people carried. The Triangular Trade was the way slaves were brought to America. Black slaves were also easier to handle than indentured servents. The planters owned the slaves as chattel, or property. They also owned the slave's wife and kids. Tobacco was a perfect "slave" plant.

On the plantations in the South, planters mainly grew tobacco. Tobacco was very popular in Colonial times. It was the perfect "slave" plant because, it needed a lot of people and hard work to harvest it. It was also very important because it was worth tons of money. The planters spent money to buy the slaves, but as the planter sold the cash crop he gained that money back, plus some.

Blacks were immune to most deadly diseases that white people carried. This was more convenient than having the indians working because the indians were not immune to the diseases. The blacks also had somewhat of a white influence because England is just North of Africa. The indians did not have any prior white influence before the Colonists arrived.

Eventhough indians seemed to be a better choice to be the main labor force, the blacks were more convenient because of the Triangular Trade. England brought trade goods to Africa to trade for the Africans, then they brought the Africans to Colonial America to be traded for raw materials. They then shipped the raw materials back to England to start the trade all over again, in essence, making a "triangle".