What did the thriving economy of the south depend on?

The thriving economy of the South in the 19th century depended heavily on agriculture, particularly the cultivation of cash crops like cotton, tobacco, and sugar. This agricultural system was largely sustained by the institution of slavery, which provided the labor needed for large plantations. Additionally, the region's economy was supported by a network of trade and transportation that facilitated the distribution of these goods both domestically and internationally. As a result, the South became economically prosperous, but also deeply intertwined with the social and moral issues surrounding slavery.