There are many reasons why the use of slaves was attractive to plantation owners. First of all, because slaves were unpaid and had no benefits or justice, they were a cheap type of labor. Another important reason was the reliance of the South in cash crops. These crops were so profitable that it allowed farmers to develop enormous plantations. Because of their size, these plantations required a huge labor force. Finally, an important reason for slaves to be brought to America was the lack of population in the continent. After Native American were exterminated by warfare and disease, plantation owners would not have been able to find enough people to run their large plantations.