What economic system characterized the Southern states prior to the Civil War?

The Southern states prior to the Civil War were primarily characterized by a plantation agriculture economy that heavily relied on slave labor. This system was built around large-scale farming of cash crops such as cotton, tobacco, and rice, which were labor-intensive and required a substantial workforce to cultivate and harvest. The wealth of the Southern economy was largely derived from these plantations, which were run by owners who relied on enslaved Africans to perform the majority of the labor.

This economic structure led to profound social and political implications, as the reliance on slavery created a deeply entrenched societal hierarchy and significant regional differences compared to the industrializing North. The plantation system not only shaped the economy of the South but also played a critical role in the political tensions that ultimately contributed to the Civil War. The focus on agriculture, particularly the cultivation of cotton, solidified the South's vulnerability to economic changes and shifts post-war, making this a pivotal characteristic of the Southern states before the conflict.