Slavery's centrality refers to the key role that slavery played in shaping and defining Southern society during the 18th and 19th centuries. It was not just an economic institution but also a social, political, and cultural system that influenced every aspect of life in the South.
Related terms
Plantation Economy: The plantation economy refers to an agricultural system centered around large-scale plantations where crops such as cotton or tobacco were grown using slave labor.
Cotton Kingdom: The Cotton Kingdom refers to the region in the Southern United States where cotton production dominated the economy, especially after the invention of the cotton gin.
Slave Codes: Slave codes were laws enacted by Southern states to control and regulate enslaved individuals' behavior. They restricted their rights, mobility, education, and even prohibited gathering without white supervision.