Final answer:
Goods such as cotton, produced by slave labor on Southern plantations, were transported via steamboats along the Mississippi River to New Orleans. From there, they were shipped to destinations like Europe and the East Coast, playing a pivotal role in both domestic and international trade.
Step-by-step explanation:
The port of New Orleans became a crucial hub for commerce and trade following the Louisiana Purchase in 1803. During the first half of the nineteenth century, various goods, including cotton, grown on plantations along the Mississippi River and in the South, were transported to New Orleans via steamboats. The city's strategic position at the mouth of the Mississippi River made it the primary point for shipment to the Gulf of Mexico, Europe, and the East Coast of the United States. Items such as slave-produced cotton were shipped mostly to Britain where they fueled the growth of its industrial cities like Manchester.
This bustling port and the rise of steam-powered river traffic led to significant wealth accumulation in New Orleans. By 1860, approximately 3,500 vessels operated out of New Orleans, with the port handling an annual cargo predominantly comprising of cotton, valued at around $220 million at the time, showcasing its immense economic importance.