In the grim annals of American history, few events resonate with the profound sorrow and systemic brutality as keenly as the Great Slave Auction, an infamous transaction often remembered as the "Weeping Time." This devastating event unfolded over two harrowing days, specifically March 2 and 3, 1859, on the typically bustling, but then somber, grounds of the Ten Broeck Race Course, located just outside the vibrant city of Savannah, Georgia, United States. It was here that approximately 436 enslaved men, women, children, and even infants were tragically sold, marking the largest single sale of enslaved people in the nation's history.

The orchestrator of this massive sale was Pierce Mease Butler, a prominent slaveholder and an absentee plantation owner from Philadelphia. Despite inheriting vast wealth, including plantations on coastal Georgia and the hundreds of individuals enslaved on them, Butler had accumulated significant personal debts, much of which stemmed from his extensive gambling. To satisfy these pressing financial obligations, he authorized the liquidation of his human property, setting in motion an event that would tear apart countless families and leave an indelible scar on American memory.

Over the course of those two cold and rainy March days, the enslaved people were paraded, inspected, and sold, often without regard for familial bonds, a chilling testament to the dehumanizing institution of slavery. The sheer scale and impersonal nature of the auction led to its mournful moniker, "The Weeping Time," a name that vividly conveys the profound grief, despair, and forced separations experienced by those caught in its grasp. This auction stands as a stark reminder of the economic underpinnings of slavery and the immense human cost of an era that continues to shape our understanding of American heritage and the enduring struggle for justice.

Understanding the Great Slave Auction

What was the Great Slave Auction?

The Great Slave Auction, also known as the "Weeping Time," was the largest single sale of enslaved Africans in U.S. history. It involved the sale of approximately 436 enslaved men, women, and children over two days in March 1859.

When and where did the "Weeping Time" take place?

This historically significant and tragic event occurred on March 2 and 3, 1859, at the Ten Broeck Race Course, situated near Savannah, Georgia, United States.

Who was Pierce Mease Butler?

Pierce Mease Butler was an affluent but indebted slaveholder and absentee plantation owner from Philadelphia. He authorized the sale of his enslaved people to settle his considerable gambling debts, initiating the Great Slave Auction.

Why was it called the "Weeping Time"?

The auction earned the name "Weeping Time" due to the miserable weather conditions (cold, heavy rain) during the sale, but more profoundly, because of the immense grief, sorrow, and forced separation experienced by the enslaved families who were torn apart and sold to different owners.

What was the significance of this auction in U.S. history?

The Great Slave Auction holds immense historical significance as the largest single sale of enslaved people in the United States. It serves as a powerful symbol of the brutal economic realities of slavery, the immense human cost, and the systemic dehumanization inherent in the institution, leaving a lasting legacy on American society and its ongoing dialogue about race and justice.