Why did plantations depend on the use of slavery?

Plantations depended on the use of slavery primarily because it provided a cheap and abundant labor force necessary for the labor-intensive cultivation of cash crops like cotton, tobacco, and sugar. The economic model of plantations relied on maximizing profits, and enslaved people represented a significant reduction in labor costs, as they were not paid wages and were forced to work long hours. Additionally, the legal and social systems of the time supported slavery, making it a deeply entrenched institution that facilitated the expansion of plantation agriculture.