Slavery and Slaveholding in the United States, 1860 Introduction On the eve of the Civil War, slavery was the backbone of Southern life and one of the most defining institutions in American history. The 1860 U.S. Census, alongside research from the National Park Service, Duke University’s Cook Center, PolitiFact, and the University of Houston’s Digital … Continue reading Only 2% “Owned” Slaves?”: Slavery and Slaveholding in the United States Facts (Part 3)