History of Indigo

Indigo Harvest

Indigo Harvest in South Carolina (1773)

Charleston and Trade

In the 1600s and 1700s, Charleston, South Carolina, was an important port for trading rice, tobacco, and indigo. While most people easily understand rice and tobacco, indigo is less familiar to many, except as a dark blue color.

What is Indigo?

Indigo is a dark blue dye made from the "peas" of certain tropical plants. It was used to dye clothes blue and was very valuable to plantation owners in South Carolina. One major advantage of indigo was that it could grow on land that wasn’t good for rice or tobacco.

Indigo as "Blue Gold"

Indigo became South Carolina’s second most valuable crop, often called “blue gold.” It was a major cash crop and a key part of the colony’s economy.

The Decline of Indigo

After the Revolutionary War, indigo production in South Carolina declined because English merchants began buying indigo from India. South Carolina farmers shifted their focus to a more profitable crop—cotton.

Discussion Questions

  1. Why was indigo so valuable to South Carolina farmers during the 1600s and 1700s?
  2. What advantage did indigo have compared to rice and tobacco?
  3. Why did indigo production in South Carolina decline after the Revolutionary War?
  4. How did the shift from indigo to cotton change South Carolina’s economy?

Glossary

  • Indigo: A dark blue dye made from the pods of certain plants.
  • Plantation: A large farm where crops are grown for sale.
  • Revolutionary War: The war between the American colonies and Great Britain (1775–1783) for independence.
  • Cash Crop: A crop grown for sale and profit rather than for personal use.

Five Interesting Facts

  • Indigo was called “blue gold” because it was so profitable.
  • Indigo could grow on land unsuitable for rice or tobacco, making it a versatile crop.
  • Indigo dye came from the peas or pods of certain tropical plants.
  • South Carolina was one of the largest producers of indigo during colonial times.
  • After the Revolutionary War, India became a main supplier of indigo to England.

Timeline of Key Events

  1. 1600s – Charleston becomes an important trade port.
  2. Early 1700s – Indigo is introduced as a major crop in South Carolina.
  3. Mid-1700s – Indigo production peaks and is called “blue gold.”
  4. 1775–1783 – The Revolutionary War disrupts trade.
  5. Post-1783 – England begins importing indigo from India.
  6. Late 1700s – South Carolina shifts from indigo to cotton as the main crop.

Charleston and Indigo

In the 1600s and 1700s, Charleston, South Carolina, was a major trade port for rice, tobacco, and indigo. While rice and tobacco were well-known, indigo was a dark blue dye made from tropical plants. It was valuable because it grew on land that was not good for other crops.

"Blue Gold" of South Carolina

Indigo became South Carolina’s second most important crop, earning the nickname “blue gold.” It played a big role in the colony’s economy.

Decline of Indigo

After the Revolutionary War, indigo production dropped because England bought indigo from India. Farmers in South Carolina then turned to a more profitable crop—cotton.