Slavery and Salt In Illinois

 On WSIUs In Focus today, the history of slavery in Illinois was discussed . The 1818 Illinois Constituion allowed the use of indentured slaves to refine salt at the Gallatin County salt licks. In 1823,  a referendum was put before voters to allow slavery throughout the entire state. The referendum passed in southern Illinois, where slaves were held, but defeated in the rest of the state and the Consistution ammended to eliminate slavery over time in the state.  The 1848 Constituion outlawed slavery throughout the state including the indentured slavery in Gallatin County. Without the cheap labor provided by slaves, it proved expensive to refine the salt to remove its high sulfur content, meaning Illinois salt could not compete against the purer slave refined salt produced in Virginia and the Carolinas, leading to the decline of the Illinois salt industry.