Slavery in Charleston

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Slavery in Charleston
Historic Charleston Foundation

Charleston was the major point of entry for Africans brought to America in the eighteenth century. Approximately three out of four enslaved Africans came to America through this port city, which had a black majority by 1790. In 1808, the foreign slave trade was abolished, but American-born slaves continued to be bought and sold until the Civil War.

Lowcountry planters purchased slaves at public auctions on the streets of Charleston and used them to cultivate crops on their plantations. Many slaves were also purchased by city dwellers to perform a variety tasks, working as sailors, fishermen, blacksmiths, brick masons, carpenters and cabinetmakers. The majority of slaves in the city, however, were domestic servants.

In Charleston, bells tolled the curfew every night at ten o'clock, by which time all slaves had to be off the streets. Those found out after curfew without written permission from their masters could be imprisoned and severely beaten.
In the years preceding the Civil War, slaves comprised about half of the city's population. Many of these slaves were highly trained and skilled house servants who worked as laundresses, seamstresses, cooks and footmen, gardeners, hostlers, and carriage drivers. Some slaves had very specific skills and worked in occupations such as carpenter, blacksmith, brick mason, cabinetmaker, tailor and shoemaker, boatmen and fishermen.

Enslaved African Americans contributed to the rich urban culture that evolved in Charleston. The city's cuisine, patterns of speech, and its customs and manners reflect the influence of black residents. As an institution, slavery limited the most basic freedoms. Slaves could not live and work as they pleased, and the local militia closely monitored their movements.

Life in a busy seaport did provide opportunities not available to slaves on the plantations. Although it was illegal for slaves to learn to read and write, many became literate through the efforts of black churches. Highly skilled slaves, such as brick masons and carpenters, were often hired out by their masters to work for others. The slave's salary was usually paid directly to the master, but a highly skilled artisan could negotiate to keep a portion of his wages. The "hiring out" system created greater knowledge of the outside world and facilitated communication between slaves and free blacks. Many used their incomes to purchase their freedom or the freedom of their wives and children.