1. **Slavery**: Slavery was a significant economic and social institution in the Southern United States before the Civil War. Wealthy white Southerners relied on enslaved labor to cultivate and harvest crops like cotton, which generated substantial profits and maintained their economic power.
2. **Political Influence**: Wealthy white Southerners held significant political power in the South, often dominating state legislatures and local governments. They used this power to enforce laws that upheld slavery and maintained their control.
3. **Economic Control**: Wealthy white Southerners controlled the majority of land and resources in the South, which allowed them to maintain economic dominance over the region.
4. **Social Hierarchy**: The Southern society was structured around a strict racial and social hierarchy, with wealthy white Southerners at the top. This hierarchy helped maintain their social and political power.
5. **Violence and Intimidation**: In some cases, wealthy white Southerners used violence and intimidation, including groups like the Ku Klux Klan, to suppress dissent and maintain control over African Americans and white allies seeking social and political change.
It's important to note that these factors are interconnected and contributed to the preservation of power and influence among wealthy white Southerners in different historical periods.