Final answer:
The commitment to cotton and slavery in the antebellum South concentrated wealth and political authority into the hands of the planter elite class but did not stabilize the economy or make the South independent from global financial centers. It also did not isolate the southern states from economic recessions like the Panic of 1837.
Step-by-step explanation:
The subject of the question is the commitment to cotton and slavery in the antebellum South. This refers to the historical period before the Civil War in the United States, specifically focusing on the economic and social aspects related to cotton cultivation and the reliance on enslaved labor.
The commitment to cotton and slavery had several effects:
- Concentrated wealth and political authority: The planter elite class, who controlled large plantations and enslaved labor, accumulated significant wealth and held significant political power.
- Did not permanently stabilize the economy of the South: While it brought economic prosperity to some, it also created an unsustainable economy that relied heavily on a single crop and enslaved labor.
- Did not make the South independent of the world's financial and industrial centers: The South relied on exports of cotton to industrial centers in Europe and the Northern states, making it interconnected with the global economy.
- Did not isolate the southern states from economic recessions: The Panic of 1837, an economic crisis that affected the United States, also impacted the South, leading to the tightening of credit and economic hardships.
Learn more about commitment to cotton and slavery