Question

Why was slave labor so important to the economy of the Southern colonies?

Slaves provided much of the labor on plantations that grew cash crops.
Slaves provided much of the labor for Southern industries such as ironworking.
Subsistence farmers struggled to grow enough food without the help of slaves.
The slave trade was the most profitable industry in the region.

Answer 1

(A) Slaves provided much labor on the plantations that grew cash crops

Hope this helps for anyone with this question!

Answer 2

Slaves provided much of the labor on plantations that grew cash crops.

Step-by-step explanation:

Slaves were the reason that the southern colonies were able to grow and sell as much cotton as they did, as there was lots of free labor.