Thomas Jefferson was a planter elite what is a planter elite?

A planter elite refers to wealthy landowners, particularly in the Southern United States, who cultivated large plantations and relied heavily on slave labor for agricultural production, especially of cash crops like tobacco, cotton, and rice. This social class held significant economic power and political influence, often shaping local and national policies to benefit their interests. Thomas Jefferson, as a member of this elite, exemplified the lifestyle and values of planter elites during the 18th and early 19th centuries.