- Most importantly, slavery was the basis of the economy in the South, particularly in the Deep South, where plantation agriculture was very large scale and relied on slave labour.
- Slaves worked on plantations, producing cash crops such as cotton and tobacco, which contributed significantly to the Southern economy.
- The plantation economy was highly reliant on the free labour of enslaved individuals to make it profitable, as they could be used to work in the harsh and demanding conditions of plantations without the need to pay wages.
Cotton as the primary cash crop:
- Cotton was the most valuable cash crop, and its production in the South was heavily reliant on slave labour.
- Due to the invention of the cotton gin, cotton became the primary cash crop with an unprecedented demand and increased production, which was only made possible by the use of enslaved workers.
Political power:
- Slavery was entwined with the political system as well, as it was tied to the institution of states' rights and white supremacy, which further strengthened the plantation system.
- White landowners who depended on slavery for their economic prosperity played a substantial role in shaping the Southern political landscape.
Cultural and Social factors:
- Additionally, slavery was tied to deeply rooted cultural and social values in the South, such as the 'plantation myth' which romanticized the Southern aristocratic lifestyle and the belief in the natural inferiority of African Americans.