The Industrial Revolution led to a significant increase in the demand for cotton in global markets. The Southern United States was uniquely suited for large-scale cotton production, as it had an abundance of fertile land and a favorable climate for growing cotton.
2. Profit Motive:
Large profits could be made by growing and selling cotton. Cotton cultivation required a large labor force to plant, tend, and harvest cotton. Enslaved people made up this workforce, and their labor generated substantial profits for plantation owners.
3. Lack of Alternative Labor Sources:
The South lacked a sufficient white labor force to meet the demands of the cotton industry. Many whites saw manual labor as demeaning and preferred non-agricultural occupations or moved westward. Enslaved people became the most readily available and economically viable labor force.
4. Expansion of Slavery:
As the demand for cotton increased, plantation owners in the South expanded their existing operations and established new plantations in new territories acquired from Native American tribes or through territorial expansion. This expansion led to the migration of enslaved people from the upper South to the Deep South, where the plantation economy was growing.
5. Protective Legislation and Political Power:
Southern states enacted legislation to protect the institution of slavery and to prevent enslaved individuals from escaping. They also ensured that the political power remained in the hands of the plantation owners, who had a vested interest in maintaining slavery.
6. Slave Codes and Laws:
Strict slave codes and laws controlled the lives of enslaved people, restricted their movements, and severely punished any attempts at resistance or rebellion. These laws helped to maintain the system of slavery and its spread in the South.