 However, those which survived found an opportunity with the abolition of the slave trade.For, paradoxically, with slavery abolition, the value of slaves increased.Thus, while their land recovered, the planters began selling off their slave population excess to newer plantations westward and south-westward in the richer farmlands thereby managing to pay off their war debts, rebuilding some of the older plantation houses, and keeping their positions of privilege and economic dominance.