What was the main part of the souths economy?

In the 1800's, the main part of the South's economy was slavery. Plantation owners bought slaves to grow crops and make money. This is how the majority of the money was made in the South.

Unlike the South, the North was becoming industrialized. Because of the South's economy depending so much on those crops grown with slave labor, it was difficult to make it illegal.

whilst the North began industrializing some, the South remained mainly agricultural in early America, therefore slavery play a big part in not just southern economics but also southern politics.

and of course recall the phrase cotton is king, meaning they relied heavily on cotton production.