It was on a decline until someone invented something that separates cotton from the stem, after that slavery increased greatly and eventually led to the civil war
YA KNOW WHAT'S FUNNY TO ME; IN THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE, IT SAYS THAT "WE HOLD THESE TRUTHS TO BE SELF-EVIDENT, THAT ALL MEN ARE CREATED EQUAL, THAT THEY ARE ENDOWED BY THEIR CREATOR WITH CERTAIN UNALIENABLE RIGHTS, THAT AMONG THESE ARE LIFE, LIBERTY AND THE PURSUIT OF HAPPINESS." EVEN THOUGH SLAVERY WOULDN'T BE ABOLISHED FOR ANOTHER 89 YEARS 💀💀