What was south's economy was based on in the 1800s?

The economy of the South was based on agriculture.

• Cotton, tobacco, rice, sugar cane, and indigo (a plant that was used for blue dye) were sold as cash crops.

• Cotton became the most important crop after Ely Whitney’s invention of the cotton gin.

• More slaves were now needed to pick the cotton.

• Slavery became essential to the South’s economy.