Question

why were there fewer slaves in the backcountry of the southern colonies than those areas closer to the coast

Answer 1

It seems that you have missed the given choices of this question; but anyway, here is the correct answer. There were fewer slaves in the back country of the southern colonies than those areas closer to the coast because Colonists in the back country were poor and couldn't afford slaves.

Answer 2

Answer:

The Backcountry of the Southern colonies was known for its remote and undeveloped region. The Backcountry lies in the Appalachian mountain very different from the colonies. The settlers who settle here were Protestants, owned small-farm and became the non-slave communities because they were not financially well off like the Southern colonies.

Therefore, some settlers did own slaves in the Appalachian region but were not greater in number.