Cotton was the most important crop grown in the South in the 19th century. It was a cash crop, meaning that it was grown to be sold for money, rather than for food or other purposes. Cotton was used to make cloth, which was a valuable commodity in the United States and around the world.
The cultivation of cotton in the South was largely dependent on slave labor. Slaves were forced to work long hours in the fields, often in harsh and dangerous conditions. They were whipped and beaten if they did not meet their quotas. The cultivation of cotton was a major factor in the South's dependence on slavery, and it was one of the main causes of the Civil War.
After the Civil War, the South's cotton industry was in ruins. The emancipation of the slaves had led to a shortage of labor, and the war had destroyed much of the infrastructure that was necessary for the cultivation of cotton. However, the cotton industry eventually recovered, and it remained an important part of the Southern economy for many years to come.