Plantation System
The plantation system refers to a large-scale agricultural model, primarily associated with the production of cash crops like cotton, sugar, tobacco, and later, rubber. These farms were typically worked by a labor force, often consisting of enslaved people or migrant workers, who performed intensive labor. Plantations were prevalent in the Americas, especially in the southern United States, during the 17th to 19th centuries. The system significantly shaped economic and social structures, leading to the development of a plantation economy that relied on the exploitation of labor and had lasting impacts on society, including issues of race and inequality.
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The plantation system refers to a large-scale agricultural system that focuses on the cultivation of cash crops like sugar, tobacco, cotton, and coffee. This system often relied on labor-intensive farming, frequently employing enslaved or indentured workers to maximize production and profit. Plantations were typically established in regions with favorable climates and fertile land, such as the American South, the Caribbean, and parts of South America. The plantation model significantly influenced economies, social structures, and cultures, often leading to complex legacies of inequality and exploitation that persist today.