Southern Plantation Economy

The Southern Plantation Economy refers to the agricultural system that dominated the American South from the 18th to the 19th centuries, particularly before the Civil War. It was characterized by large-scale farms, known as plantations, that primarily produced cash crops like tobacco, rice, and cotton. These plantations relied heavily on enslaved labor to maximize profits. The economy was deeply intertwined with the use of slave labor, which created significant social and economic divisions. This system contributed to the South's wealth but ultimately played a key role in the ethical and political conflicts leading to the Civil War.