• giving slaves some autonomy might in some cases allow owners to make more money
• slave prices were going up because of the demand for slaves from the new cotton growing areas south central, southwest
• owners have an economic incentive to sell their slaves away
  
• 

• value because of their skills
• why didn't slaves rebel or escape when they had so much independence?
• if they work hard they have some ability to keep some money for themselves
  
• hoping to make money to buy family members and keep their families together
• didn't always work--they could be cheated, and they had no recourse when they were because they had no legal rights
  

• owners looked for where they could make the most money
• the US is becoming more modern economically, and slavery with it
• as the system became more capitalist, owners cared less and less
  

• could be rented out to someone who needed laborers
• could make money on the side from extra work (at least Saturday night)
• could become an independent contractor

Had no legal protection if cheated because they had no legal right to enter into a contract

money was a more important strategy than moral appeal

how much expertise and independence was too much?

• owner as capitalist, how to make the most money?
• maintaining the social order of slavery
  

why would owners separate families?