Tabacco, slavery, & cotton.
Tabacco was first grown because of the high demand. However, when the demand fall, and industrialization occurred...
Cotton was in demand, as it was used to produce clothings and other things through factories. The South had believed that because of their cotton, they would be able to gain wide-spread support from the European countries (didn't happen)
Lastly, slavery influenced southern life, as there were more slaves in the south than owners. Slaves usually did all the work in the area, and the owners only had to give orders, live a more luxurious life, & go hunting for runaway slaves.
hope this helps