Plantation System: A system of large-scale agricultural production primarily focused on cash crops like cotton, which required a significant amount of land and slave labor.
Slavery: The practice of owning human beings as property and forcing them to work without pay. Slavery was fundamental to the southern economy and played a crucial role in cotton production.
Textile Industry: The industry involved in producing fabrics and clothing. The growth of the textile industry during this period created a high demand for raw materials like cotton, contributing to the south's economic dependence.