Southern Agriculture

Definition

Southern agriculture refers to the agricultural practices and economy of the southern United States, particularly during the antebellum period. It was characterized by large-scale plantations that relied heavily on slave labor and specialized in cash crops like cotton, tobacco, and rice.

Related terms

Plantation System: A system of large-scale commercial farming that dominated southern agriculture during this time. Plantations were worked by slaves and produced cash crops for export.

Cash Crops: Agricultural products grown primarily for profit rather than personal use. In southern agriculture, examples include cotton, tobacco, and rice.

Slave Labor: Enslaved Africans who were forced to work on plantations under harsh conditions without pay or freedom. They played a crucial role in southern agriculture's success.