High demand for labor: The economy of the Chesapeake colonies was heavily dependent on cash crops such as tobacco and cotton, which required a large labor force. Enslaved people were forced to work long hours in difficult conditions and were often worked to death.
Natural increase: Enslaved people had high birth rates in the Chesapeake colonies, which helped increase the slave population. This was due to several factors, such as improved nutrition and better medical care, as well as the widespread practice of forced breeding.
Inter-colonial slave trade: The Chesapeake colonies were a major hub for the inter-colonial slave trade, which involved the purchase and sale of enslaved people between different colonies. This trade brought many new enslaved people to the Chesapeake colonies.
The end of the transatlantic slave trade: In the late 18th century, the transatlantic slave trade was abolished, which significantly reduced the supply of new enslaved people. However, enslaved people continued to be forced to breed within the plantation system, helping to maintain the size of the slave population.