Why was there less slavery in the backcountry than the tidewater?

The backcountry's rugged terrain and isolation made it less suitable for large-scale plantation agriculture that relied on slavery. The small farms and homesteads in the backcountry preferred free labor due to the lower demand for labor compared to the labor-intensive cash crops of the tidewater. Additionally, the backcountry tended to attract a more independent-minded population that did not rely as heavily on enslaved labor.