Plantations in the Americas, the Caribbean, and other parts of the world were heavily reliant on slave labor to produce cash crops such as sugar, cotton, and tobacco. The demand for these crops was booming in Europe and other parts of the world, and plantation owners were willing to pay high prices for slaves to work their fields.
In addition to plantations, slaves were also used in other industries such as mining, construction, and domestic service. The high demand for slave labor in a variety of industries helped to fuel the growth of the slave trade.