1. ThE Cotton Belt and the AMERICAN SYSTEM

2. where was THE COTTON BELT?
Land south of the Ohio River
Kentucky, Tennessee, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, Texas, and Arkansas

3. But why is it called the cotton bELT?
The economies of these states depended on cotton
COTTON IS KING!!!
These areas remained rural while the north continued to industrialize
Cotton could only be grown here because of the climate
frost free days a year, fertile soil, and plenty of rain

4. Every plantation had hundreds of slaves…..Not!
15,000 families owned plantations who relied on slave labor to grow cash crops
¼ of all slaves lived on a planation with 50 or more slaves
In the 1800’s half of all cotton produced came from plantation with 6 or less slaves

5. The American system
Henry Clay’s idea of government backed economic growth
Known as “Harry of the West”
Owned slaves himself, but was very unsettled by it
Eventually freed his slaves
Worked for gradual emancipation in Kentucky

6. Why cotton? 1793 the cotton gin was invented by Eli Whitney
there was a push to put more land into cotton production
Most plantains were located in the fertile land around rivers
After the cotton gin, owners bought up poor, dry neighborhoods and turned them into cotton fields