Many in the South preferred an agricultural economy and did not want (fill in the blank)

Industry, is the right answer.

Explanation:

The climatic conditions in the South were favorable for agriculture. The large tracts of agriculture lands were owned by whites who employed slaves on such plantations. Cotton, tobacco and sugarcane were the main crops grown on such large tracts of land.

The people of South preferred agriculture because the climatic conditions supported agriculture and the cost of agricultural production was minimum.