What led to the consolidation of slavery as a labor system in the early republic and how did slavery shape both the North and South?

The roots of the consolidation of slavery lie in the staple crop system of agriculture in the South. During the early years of the republic, tobacco was the primary staple crop in many areas, along with rice and indigo in South Carolina. All were labor intensive and produced on a large scale. Slavery provided the necessary labor to sustain this system.