In March 1859, Savannah, Georgia hosted the Great Slave Auction, which became the largest auction of enslaved people in United States history. Organized by John McDonough, the auction featured more than 400 enslaved individuals, many of whom had been forcibly removed from their families and communities. The event took place in the context of the booming cotton economy, which was heavily reliant on slave labor. As plantations in the Deep South expanded, the demand for labor surged, making slave auctions a common occurrence in the region.

Attendees included planters from neighboring states looking to purchase enslaved individuals for their operations. The auction lasted for two days and was marked by the high bids placed on young and skilled enslaved people, illustrating the economic motivations driving the slave trade. The harsh realities faced by those being auctioned were stark, as families were often divided, and individuals faced the uncertainty of their futures. Many of the auctioned individuals were separated from their loved ones, amplifying the emotional trauma associated with slavery.

The Great Slave Auction showcased not only the scale of the slave trade but also the moral implications of slavery in American society. It served to underscore the deepening divide between the North and South, as debates about the morality of slavery intensified in the years leading up to the Civil War. The records of the auction provide a chilling reminder of the human cost embedded in the antebellum economy, further solidifying the harsh legacy of slavery in the United States.