What three principal factors accounted for the explosive growth of cotton production and slave labor in the South by the 1850s?

The explosive growth of cotton production and slave labor in the South by the 1850s can be attributed to the invention of the cotton gin, which significantly increased the efficiency of cotton processing. The rising demand for cotton in both domestic and international markets, particularly from the textile industry in Great Britain, fueled this growth. Additionally, the expansion of fertile land in the South, facilitated by westward expansion and the government's promotion of agricultural development, allowed for greater cultivation of cotton and reliance on enslaved labor.