This seems to be true; we might remember that slavery has been used for almost every kind of work; furthermore, even without an agricultural base, slavery would have provided the huge number of domestic servants necessary for urban households in the early 20th century. There is no reason to think that slavery would not be profitable for industiralization as well; in fact, had slavery continued southern industry might have developed more rapidly in the late 19th century. Paul Finkelman [log in to unmask] wrote: > Doesn't recent scholarship reveal slavery to be very adaptable. That in Richmond for example slavery was in transition from agricultural to industrial labor...that Genovese was right...slavery might have existed until the Great Depression when slave value might have dropped during a period of asset deflation... > > Dave Riddick > > To subscribe, change options, or unsubscribe, please see the instructions > at http://listlva.lib.va.us/archives/va-hist.html -- Paul Finkelman Chapman Distinguished Professor of Law University of Tulsa College of Law 3120 East 4th Place Tulsa, OK 74104-3189 phone 918-631-3706 Fax 918-631-2194 e-mail: [log in to unmask] To subscribe, change options, or unsubscribe, please see the instructions at http://listlva.lib.va.us/archives/va-hist.html