3.2.7 quick check king cotton and life in the south
1. How did the cotton gin impact the economy of the South?
The cotton gin dramatically increased the efficiency of cotton production, making it easier and faster to separate the seeds from the cotton fibers. This led to a significant increase in cotton production and exports, ultimately turning cotton into the dominant cash crop in the South and driving the region's economy.
2. What was the social hierarchy like in the antebellum South?
In the antebellum South, the social hierarchy was based primarily on race and wealth. At the top of the social hierarchy were wealthy white plantation owners, followed by white small farmers, poor whites, free blacks, and enslaved African Americans at the bottom.
3. How did the institution of slavery shape life in the South?
Slavery was deeply ingrained in every aspect of life in the South, shaping social, economic, and political structures. Enslaved African Americans were forced to work on plantations, providing the labor necessary to produce crops like cotton. Slavery led to the creation of a racial caste system and perpetuated inequality and exploitation in the region.