What economy relied heavily on the use of slaves?

The economy of the American South relied heavily on the use of slaves, particularly during the 18th and 19th centuries. Plantation agriculture, especially in the production of cotton, tobacco, and sugar, was labor-intensive and dependent on enslaved African Americans for its profitability. This system not only shaped the region's economic structure but also had profound social and cultural implications that contributed to the broader context of slavery in the United States.