Final answer:
The reliance on cotton negatively affected the economy of the South after the Civil War due to the decline in cotton prices and high levels of debt.
Step-by-step explanation:
The reliance on cotton had a significant impact on the economy of the South in the decades following the Civil War. Before the war, the South produced the majority of the world's supply of cotton, which was a highly profitable cash crop. However, during the war, Southern cotton planters were unable to sell their cotton, leading to a decline in cotton prices. This decline in prices, combined with the high levels of debt incurred by many farmers, resulted in financial struggles for the South's economy.