Question

What was the primary driver of the southern economy through 1860?

Answer 1

The primary driver of the southern economy through 1860 was the cultivation of cotton, which relied on slave labor. This focus on cotton underscored the economic disparities that led to growing sectional tensions and the eventual outbreak of the Civil War.

Step-by-step explanation:

The primary driver of the southern economy through 1860 was the production of cotton, which became the cornerstone of the region's economic activities. This crop's success was largely due to the institution of slavery, providing cheap labor that made cotton production highly profitable. Advances in steam power and the development of ports facilitated the efficient distribution of cotton, enhancing its economic significance.

Cotton, deeply intertwined with slavery, solidified the South's economic and cultural identity and generated immense wealth for plantation owners, while enslaved individuals suffered immense hardships. The economic prosperity based on cotton and slavery was a significant factor contributing to the sectional tensions between the North and South, eventually leading to the Civil War.

Learn more about Southern Economy and Cotton

Answer 2

The primary driver of the southern economy through 1860 was cotton, which relied on slavery for its production. Slavery provided the essential, abundant, and cost-effective labor necessary for cotton cultivation.

Step-by-step explanation:

Until 1860, the dominant force propelling the southern economy was cotton.

The Southern states, particularly those along the Mississippi River Valley, emerged as the primary producers of cotton, with slavery forming the linchpin of this economic system.

Slavery provided the essential, abundant, and cost-effective labor necessary for cotton cultivation.

The profitability of cotton, intertwined with the institution of slavery, not only sustained the Southern economy but also contributed to the profits of Northern cotton mills.

The Southern economic and cultural identity became deeply rooted in slavery and cotton production, rendering any shifts or anti-slavery sentiments perceived as threats.

Cotton held pivotal importance in the international market, while the South relied on other regions for provisions, manufactured goods, and financial assistance.

In essence, the nexus of slavery and cotton cultivation constituted the cornerstone of the Southern economy until 1860.