Slavery's Centrality

Definition

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.