Question

Briefly describe a Southern economic argument for slavery.

Answer 1

In order to fuel the mainly Agrarian Economy the South had, The cultivation and exportation of Cash crops was utilized to fuel the economic base, Notably It's staple crop was Cotton. Due to this Agrarian type Economy, The South needed a large and cost effective Labor force. That didn't need to be necessarily paid as to reduce the cost of such a labor force, Which came in the form of Black slaves from West Africa and later their decedents. The South couldn't support a proper Industrial base due to the Terrain and Environment, As it was far better to use the available land for something that would garner a greater profit, Like Cash Crops. Also at the time the World was in High demand for Cotton as around 1815-1860, The only other places that Cotton was produced in such mass quantities was Egypt and India, Yet even then those two could not compete with the Souths superior means of harvesting and processing it via the invention of the Cotton Gin. So with the demand of Cotton being so high the southern Economy could greatly benefit and profit off of the exports of the crop and control the prices as it saw fit due to that very demand, Thus their was no true need to have a Large Industrial base like the North. As to the south the amount of money they got from Cotton Exports would always be greater than what they could get from Manufactured goods.