What was a key aspect of the internal slave trade in America?

A key aspect of the internal slave trade in America was indeed that women slaves increased in value. This occurred for several reasons, including the growing demand for labor in agricultural regions like the Deep South due to the expansion of cotton plantations. Women slaves were valuable not only for their labor but also for their reproductive capabilities; they could bear children who would also become slaves. This ability to produce more laborers made women especially sought after, thus driving up their market value.

In contrast, some aspects such as exporting slaves primarily to Europe or the idea that slaves overall were gaining less value do not accurately reflect the dynamics of the internal slave trade, where demand was high, and values tended to fluctuate based on economic conditions. The trade involved a variety of ages and genders, but the notion that only older slaves were traded does not capture the reality of the internal market, which included individuals of all ages to meet labor demands effectively. Therefore, women's increasing value within this internal trade highlights a crucial shift in how slaves were perceived and utilized in the economy.