why was slavery so important to the south?

Answer 1

Originally in the American Colonies, Native Americans and other groups—mostly white Europeans such as captured soldiers or minor criminals—were used as slaves but by the 19th century almost all slaves were blacks. During the British colonial period, slaves were used mostly in the Southern colonies, with few in the Northern colonies. Early on, slaves (indentured servants) were most useful in the growing of indigo, rice, and tobacco; cotton was a minor crop until the 19th century. Nevertheless, it was clear that slaves were most economically viable in plantation-style agriculture. Many landowners began to grow increasingly dependent on slave labor for their livelihood, and legislatures responded accordingly by increasingly stricter regulations on forced labor practices, known as the Slave codes.

Answer 2

The south did not have the labor pool available to the North. Northern cities could fill factories with what was then cheap labor, but the more rural, less urbanized South needed bodies to work it's plantation fields, thus we have slavery and a divided nation. The rise of technology would have eventually rendered slavery unnecessary, however, the Civil War considerably shortened the time frame in which this occurred,

Answer 3

The rise of technology INCREASED the need for slavery, not decreased. Eli Whitney invented the cotton gin which made the process of cleaning cotton faster. Because plantation owners could clean cotton faster, they grew more cotton which necessitated an increase in slaves. This invention which was supposed to make life easier actually caused the slave trade to increase (a paradox). Southern plantation owners did not have to pay thier labor, they would also breed their slaves. Slaves taken from Africa could also adapt to the southern climate in order to work long hours in the fields. Slavery was just as much of a business as cotton or tobacco and was firmly ingrained into the southern culture.

Answer 4

You think the white southerners were going to work their own farms? Slavery was going to either be abolished or fall along the wayside after it became illegal to transport kidnapped people from Africa. The labor pool would then not be replenished, so yeah, it was very important for them while they had it as it was a central factor in their economy.

Answer 5

Slavery was an inexpensive labor supply in an economically depressed area. Slaves were primarily used as field hands at the cotton plantations. They were used to pick "king cotton".

Answer 6

They needed labor for the plantations. The south survived with agriculture where the north was industrial.

Answer 7

since u asked...basically the white people hired the slaves(blacks) to work their fields and do the labor they were supposed to do themselves promising them freedom and places to stay food clothing and educations that many of them(not all some kept their promises) did not follow through with bascially leaving the slaves with d no choice its do it or die..so the answer is it was FREE MANUAL LABOR IS THE REASON SO THEY DONT HAVE TO DO IT

Answer 8

Planters thought that slaves provided cheap labor.Actually the responsibility of feeding them and caring for them when they were sick ate into some of the profits they realized from their labors.Geroge Washington suffered severe financial hardships because of what it cost to keep his slaves.

Answer 9

As I see it "status" poor excuse for using men, women and children that way. Depending on the family my gage would have to say Status.

Answer 10

becuase of the labour intensive crops in the south. e.g: Cotton, sugarcane, and other fruit and vegtable crops.