Number of Enslaved Individuals in 1860

How many people were enslaved in the U. S. in 1860?

a) 1 million

b) 3 million

c) 5 million

d) 7 million

Final answer:

In 1860, approximately 3.95 million individuals were enslaved in the United States.

Final answer:

In 1860, approximately 3.95 million individuals were enslaved in the United States. This conclusion is drawn from population records of the era, including the 1800 and 1860 census reports. The number of enslaved individuals continued to increase during the first half of the 19th century, particularly as the southern cotton industry expanded.

The number of people who were enslaved in the United States in 1860 is approximately 3.95 million. This figure is found by examining the population records of the time. Specifically, in the 1800 census, it was recorded that there were over one million African Americans, of which nearly 900,000 had slave status. By 1860, the total number of African Americans increased to 4.4 million, and of that number, 3.95 million were listed as enslaved.

Slavery was a significant part of the southern economy during the antebellum era. For instance, by 1850, about 3.2 million enslaved people labored in the United States, 1.8 million of whom worked in the cotton fields. As the decade progressed, the number of enslaved individuals continued to rise, resulting in the aforementioned figure of 3.95 million by 1860. It is important to recognize this massive figure when studying the history of the United States and the pervasive impact of slavery.