
What was the South's economy based on before and during the Civil War?
Answer
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Hint: A civil war is a conflict between organised groups within a single country or state. One side's goal may be to seize control of the nation or a city, gain regional independence, or reform government policies. Civil wars could result in a large number of deaths and the depletion of valuable resources.
Complete answer:
The American Civil War took place in the United States from 1861 to 1865, and it was fought between northern states loyal to the Union and southern states that had separated to form the Confederate States of America. Slavery's position in the United States, especially in the territories, was the main cause of the war.
Before the Civil War, agriculture was the backbone of the Southern economy. The soil was rich in nutrients and ideal for farming. Cotton, tobacco, corn, sugar cane, and indigo were all heavily planted crops. These crops were referred to as cash crops because they were grown to be sold or exported for a profit. They were raised on vast farms known as plantations, which relied on slave labor to keep them afloat.
The South had a lot of money, but it was tied to the slave economy. In 1860, the economic value of slavery in the United States outweighed the combined value of all railroads, factories, and banks in the country. Cotton prices were at an all-time high on the eve of the Civil War.
The American South had more per capita income than any other slave economy in the New World on the eve of the war. Slaves were their most valuable possessions, worth approximately three billion dollars to their masters.
Note: The Civil War was one of the most researched and written-about periods in American history, and it continues to elicit cultural and historical discussion. The history of the Civil War, as well as the concept of the Confederacy's Lost Cause, are of particular interest.
Complete answer:
The American Civil War took place in the United States from 1861 to 1865, and it was fought between northern states loyal to the Union and southern states that had separated to form the Confederate States of America. Slavery's position in the United States, especially in the territories, was the main cause of the war.
Before the Civil War, agriculture was the backbone of the Southern economy. The soil was rich in nutrients and ideal for farming. Cotton, tobacco, corn, sugar cane, and indigo were all heavily planted crops. These crops were referred to as cash crops because they were grown to be sold or exported for a profit. They were raised on vast farms known as plantations, which relied on slave labor to keep them afloat.
The South had a lot of money, but it was tied to the slave economy. In 1860, the economic value of slavery in the United States outweighed the combined value of all railroads, factories, and banks in the country. Cotton prices were at an all-time high on the eve of the Civil War.
The American South had more per capita income than any other slave economy in the New World on the eve of the war. Slaves were their most valuable possessions, worth approximately three billion dollars to their masters.
Note: The Civil War was one of the most researched and written-about periods in American history, and it continues to elicit cultural and historical discussion. The history of the Civil War, as well as the concept of the Confederacy's Lost Cause, are of particular interest.
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