The term describes the economic and political dominance of cotton production in the American South during the antebellum period (roughly 1815-1860). This phrase encapsulates the southern economy’s overwhelming reliance on a single cash crop and its profound impact on society, politics, and the expansion of slavery. As an example, consider that by the mid-19th century, cotton accounted for over half the value of all United States exports, demonstrating its pivotal role in the national and international economy.
The prominence of this commodity shaped Southern social structures, fostering a planter aristocracy dependent on enslaved labor. It provided a powerful economic rationale for the continuation and expansion of slavery, influencing Southern political ideology and resistance to abolitionist movements. Furthermore, it impacted international relations, as Great Britain’s textile industry relied heavily on Southern cotton, creating complex dependencies and influencing British neutrality during the Civil War.
