Describe the impact that cotton had on the political and economic relationship between the up and low country as well as their differing views on the United States Constitution
Cotton had a profound impact on the political and economic relationship between the upcountry (also known as the backcountry) and the lowcountry in the United States. During the early 19th century, the invention of the cotton gin by Eli Whitney drastically increased cotton production and made it a highly profitable crop. This, in turn, had several consequences on the relationship between the upcountry and the lowcountry.
Economically, cotton became the backbone of the southern economy, particularly in the lowcountry. The fertile land and warm climate of the lowcountry, which included states such as South Carolina and Georgia, provided excellent conditions for cotton cultivation. The slave labor-intensive production of cotton created immense wealth for the planters in the lowcountry, turning them into the dominant economic class. The wealth generated by cotton also contributed to the disproportionate influence that the lowcountry wielded over the political landscape of the southern states.
Politically, the cotton industry further deepened the divide between the upcountry and the lowcountry, leading to differing views on the United States Constitution. The upcountry, consisting of states like Tennessee and Kentucky, had a more diverse and agrarian-based economy. Although they also produced cotton, it was on a smaller scale compared to the lowcountry. As a result, the upcountry had a less elite, planter-dominated society and thus held different political interests.
The upcountry generally viewed the United States Constitution as a means to ensure strong states' rights and limit federal interference. They believed that a decentralized government would protect their individual liberties, especially as they feared the growing power of the planter class in the lowcountry. The upcountry's reliance on small-scale farming and their limited access to transportation infrastructure created a sense of independence and self-sufficiency, further strengthening their preference for states' rights.
On the other hand, the lowcountry, with its large plantations and wealth, saw the United States Constitution as a tool to protect their economic interests. The influential planter class in the lowcountry depended heavily on slave labor for cotton production, and they feared any threat to this system. Consequently, they favored a stronger national government that would protect and maintain the institution of slavery. Their economic power allowed them to exert significant influence over the political decision-making process, often leading to policies that favored their specific interests.
Therefore, the economic dominance and concentration of wealth resulting from cotton production in the lowcountry accentuated the political divide between the upcountry and the lowcountry. The differing views on the United States Constitution were fueled by these economic disparities, the role of slavery, and the influence of the planter class. This divide would ultimately contribute to the intensification of regional tensions and disagreements, culminating in the American Civil War.