Soon after the first European settlers came to the New World they sought new sources of labor to work their farms. Indians proved to be a poor selection so they turned to the importation of slaves from Africa. The north had some slavery at first but its rocky soil and climate made it a poor place for this type of labor force. The south on the other hand proved to be a more suitable environment. With the advent of the tobacco and cotton crop more and more slaves were imported. Conditions were harsh since most slaves were considered property. Politically the purchase and ownership of slaves became stumbling block to maintaining our union and was not really resolved until the end of the Civil War. The free slaves still were mistreated and discriminated against after the war with a wave of segregation laws that did not end until the Civil Rights Act was passed.

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