Pre-Civil War Cotton Boom in the South

The Pre-Civil War Cotton Boom in the South, spanning from the late 18th century to the mid-19th century, transformed the Southern economy and society. Fueled by the invention of the cotton gin in 1793, which drastically increased cotton processing efficiency, the South became a dominant global cotton supplier. This boom led to the expansion of plantation agriculture and a surge in the demand for enslaved labor, deeply entrenching the institution of slavery. The economic prosperity brought by cotton bolstered the Southern aristocracy but also intensified regional disparities and tensions, contributing to the eventual outbreak of the Civil War.