Economic dependence:** The Southern economy was heavily dependent on slavery. Slave labor was essential for the production of cotton, tobacco, and other cash crops that were the lifeblood of the Southern economy. Without slavery, the Southern economy would have collapsed.
White supremacy:** Many white Southerners believed that blacks were inferior to whites and that slavery was necessary to keep them in their place. This belief was rooted in the racist ideology that was prevalent in the South at the time.
Political power:** Slavery gave white Southerners a disproportionate amount of political power. Slave states were overrepresented in the U.S. Congress and the Electoral College, which allowed them to block policies that they didn't like, such as tariffs on imported goods that would have benefited Northern manufacturers.
Social order:** Slavery helped to maintain the social order in the South. By keeping blacks enslaved, white Southerners were able to prevent them from competing with whites for jobs, land, and other resources. This helped to preserve the status quo and prevent any challenges to the traditional social hierarchy.
In conclusion, there were a number of factors that contributed to the South's desire to keep slavery so badly. Economic dependence, white supremacy, political power, and social order all played a role in shaping the South's stance on slavery.