Final answer:
Slavery supplied the foundation of the American economy through the South's reliance on enslaved people for crops like cotton, rice, and tobacco, the economic benefits experienced by non-slaveholders .
Step-by-step explanation:
Three ways that slavery supplied the foundation of the American economy include:
- The South's dependence on slaves to harvest crops such as cotton, rice, and tobacco. Slavery provided a large and cheap labor force that was crucial for the success of these industries.
- The international slave trade and the side effects it had on non-slaveholders, including merchants and ship builders. These individuals benefited economically from the trade, which contributed to the overall strength of the American economy.
- The economic reliance of the South on cotton, a commodity produced using slave labor. Cotton became a major export and fueled the profits of cotton mills in the North, further supporting the American economy.