Final answer:
The practice of enslavement expanded greatly in the South due to the increased demand for labor and the closure of the international slave trade.
Step-by-step explanation:
The practice of enslavement expanded greatly in the South after it appeared to be declining due to several factors:
- The rapid rise of cotton and sugar economies in the Lower South increased the demand for enslaved African Americans.
- The shift to less labor-intensive grain economies in the Upper South reduced the need for enslaved Black labor, leading to the sale of 'surplus' enslaved individuals.
- The closure of the international slave trade in 1808 resulted in increased demand for enslaved African Americans, leading to the expansion of the domestic slave trade.