Preservation of the plantation system: Plant owners and other wealthy planters were unwilling to give up the land that was crucial for maintaining the plantation system, which heavily depended on enslaved labor.
White supremacy and racial prejudice: Many Southern white people believed in white supremacy and considered African Americans inferior. They were reluctant to support any policies that might improve the lives and empower African Americans.
Resistance to federal government intervention: Some Southerners resented the federal government's involvement in reconstructing the South, and they saw Sherman's plan to distribute land to former slaves as an encroachment on state rights.
Political and economic consequences: Some southerners worried about the political and economic consequences of disrupting the existing landownership patterns and feared that giving land to former slaves could lead to social instability and economic disruption in the south.
Cultural attitudes: The long-held cultural attitudes and social norms in the south, which often promoted the subordination of African Americans, influenced the resistance to Sherman's plan.