How do we get cotton soo easy nowdays, without slavery, yet for some reason there was a war over it?

Question

I mean what happened to the cotton growers after slavery ended? I never hear this part of the story from the history books but what was up?

OK, states rights I know

Thanks brinlarr, you're the only one who answered my question straight. Just really wondering if anyone knows where/how their hanes t-shirt cotton is picked/maybe their parents, sounds interesting

Answer 1

reccession, price of cotton went up, land exhusted, labour forces dispursed, competion from india and egypt, price of cotton plumets

Answer 2

I think you need to go back and study your history books if you are referring to the Civil War. It was about many things, but cotton was the least of them. The South was still mainly agricultural at that time, while the North was deep into the industrial revolution. When it seemed that new states coming into the United States would be not be slave states, then some Southern States, fearful of losing an effective voice in the Federal government, tried to cede from the nation. The Federal Government denied them this right and the war was on. Lincoln actually signed the Emancipation Declaration so that Abolitionists would support the Union side. See the reference for further info.

Answer 3

The mechanization of all facets of cotton production ended the need for cheap labor. Ironically, it was the partial mechanization of the cotton industry that renewed the importance of cheap manual labor for the cotton industry. Incidentally, the Civil war was not about slavery, it was rather about whether a state had the right to secede from the union, the answer was no. Slavery was simply the issue that most galvanized the people into supporting the war. As one philosopher said, "there are two reasons anyone does something, the good reason and the real reason." the good reason was to combat slavery, the real reason was to fight seccesion. I agree that slavery is and was morally repugnant but it is interesting to compare the living and working conditions of the slaves in the south vs. the factory workers in the north. In the south the slaves were fed a sufficient diet to keep them strong and reasonably healthy, they worked in healthful environments and had there housing taken care of. Factory workers owed several years worth of wages to the company store, paid for their own housing and did not recieve food and were forced to work in some of the most horrendous conditions. Slavery was wrong but so was the factory system of the "free men" in the north.

Answer 4

Slavery was not the real issue for the war between the states.
Eli whitney had invented the cotton gin in the early 1800's and he pioneered the support equipment that would make slavery obsolete. By the time the Civil War began, slavery was ending in the south.
The Real issue was one of state's rights.
Does the Federal government have the right to dictate State law?
Constitutional, it does not. The Southern states stood in opposition to Federal Mandates, and war insued.

Answer 5

There wasn't a war over slavery, that was just the most sensational part of the many issues separating the north and south, and the issue with the most lasting effect.

Answer 6

The great botanist George Washington Carver developed many more cash crops for southern land, esp. peanuts. Mechanical means of picking cotton were developed.

Answer 7

i agree with all the other comments, also, there is still a ton of racism. people still want slaves. it's not a done deal. it's still a very real thing, don't doubt that.

Answer 8

because now people in the u.s realize its wrong, and now we can just grow it anywhere and have amazing technology pick it for us.

Answer 9

DUH !! There are machines for it now !! And before the machines but after slavery, the workers got PAID to do it !!

Answer 10

like brinlarr said,,,,, . and then the carpet baggers.