The cargo area of a ship, in which poorer immigrants traveled, was called:

The cargo area of a ship, in which the poorer immigrants traveled was called STEERAGE. In a ship, rich travelers usually buy cabin passage and sleep in private rooms, while the poor passenger usually stay in the steerage. Steerage space was originally meant for storage of cargoes. Steerage passengers usually slept, ate and do everything they have to do in the same spaces. They brought their own bedding and cooked their food rations by themselves.

More than 4 million enslaved hunan beings in the south and they touched every aspect of the regions social, political and economic life.