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Railroad Construction and Antebellum Slave Prices

Author

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  • Mark A. Yanochik
  • Mark Thornton
  • Bradley T. Ewing

Abstract

Slave prices rose rapidly to historic highs in the late‐antebellum South. The boom in railroad construction in the South helps explain this large increase in slave prices. The economic connection between railroads and slave prices reconciles the views of traditional economic historians who thought slavery was economically irrational and the views of the new economic historians who have concluded that slavery was highly profitable. It was the massive public subsidies to railroads that explain it was public policy that provided the stimulant to slave prices, not the “peculiar” culture of the antebellum South or the planter efficient management of slave labor.

Suggested Citation

  • Mark A. Yanochik & Mark Thornton & Bradley T. Ewing, 2003. "Railroad Construction and Antebellum Slave Prices," Social Science Quarterly, Southwestern Social Science Association, vol. 84(3), pages 723-737, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:bla:socsci:v:84:y:2003:i:3:p:723-737
    DOI: 10.1111/1540-6237.8403016
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Fogel, Robert W & Engerman, Stanley L, 1977. "Explaining the Relative Efficiency of Slave Agriculture in the Antebellum South," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 67(3), pages 275-296, June.
    2. Lebergott, Stanley, 1985. "The Demand for Land: The United States, 1820–1860," The Journal of Economic History, Cambridge University Press, vol. 45(2), pages 181-212, June.
    3. Wright, Gavin, 1975. "Slavery and the cotton boom," Explorations in Economic History, Elsevier, vol. 12(4), pages 439-451, October.
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    Cited by:

    1. Easaw, Joshy & Ghoshray, Atanu, 2023. "On the trend and variability of 18th century British Transatlantic slave prices," Cardiff Economics Working Papers E2023/29, Cardiff University, Cardiff Business School, Economics Section.

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