Southern slaveholders

Southern slaveholders were individuals, primarily in the United States, who owned and managed enslaved people, particularly from the late 17th to the 19th centuries. They relied on enslaved labor for agriculture, particularly in the production of cash crops like cotton and tobacco. Slaveholders often held significant economic and political power, justifying slavery as essential for their livelihoods and claiming it was a benevolent institution. This system led to profound social and economic inequalities and contributed to the cultural and sectional tensions that eventually sparked the Civil War. The legacy of slavery continues to impact American society today.