Effects of Cotton in the 19th century

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Effects of Cotton in the 19th century.

Cotton was a crop that came in after the Americans had their lands exhausted after growing tobacco in it. During the early years of 19th century cotton became the major crop and aided the westward expansion. In this paper my thesis statement will be the effects that came with cotton and how the people reacted to this effects. Through this it will be easier to determine whether cotton was a curse or a blessing to the United States.

Cotton was the key role of economic growth in America during the first forty years to the 19th century. It stimulated the united states economy where, England had just begun industrialization and the expansion to the north increased the demand for cotton as raw materials. During these years’ cotton became the main U.S cash crop and was exported to other countries such as England. The south produced more cotton almost 75% of the total production (TORGET, ANDREW.pg. 56) Through cotton there was the northern and the southern where they had different view. This contributed to westward expansion where the U.S desired to expand to the west.

Many thought that the slaves were going to be washed out after the land in the south had soils that were now exhausted and could not produce more tobacco. This was not the case cotton came in and the demand for slaves to work in these plantations increased (Voices of Freedom pg. 210). The slaves would work in the plantations and would the separation of cotton from the seeds which was quite tedious. The native people of the south became more united as slavery was now more profitable that it was. The invention of cotton gin was thought to make slave demand reduce but in turn there was an increase in demand for the to work in the cotton plantations. In the book, Voices of Freedom we are told of the Southerners who went to an extent of publishing books saying that if one treated the slaves kindly they would be more productive and produce more labour workforce at the plantations.

Just like before there was the rise of activists who demanded freedom and protecting the rights of the slaves. A good example is Fredrick Douglas who complained of experiencing slavery since he was young and the thought of slavery would break him down. Fredric was an eloquent speaker who fought for the rights of the slaves and racial rights too. (voices of freedom). He managed to escape to the north where he continued to fight while writing newspapers and crusade speeches. In his book he says that, and I quote “freedom now appeared to disappear no more forever” (voices of freedom pg. 209).

Slave trade was on the rise during this time and many went ahead to formulate rules for their slaves. A good example is Barrow who in his rules of the Highland plantation, which were strict so as to gain full control over his slaves. He states that, ‘No Negro shall leave the place anytime without my permission” (voices of freedom pg. 214). Slaves were now at the command of their owners and Barrow shows how slaves were on demand thus protected his. Generally, the United States economy can view cotton as a blessing to the them but the other communities can conclude that cotton was a curse since it intensified the demand for slaves. These slaves if they were alive today could not see any blessing inn cotton.

Work Cited

Voices of freedom

TORGET, ANDREW J. Seeds of Empire: Cotton, Slavery, and the Transformation of the Texas Borderlands, 1800-1850. S.l.: UNIV OF NORTH CAROLINA PR, 2018. Print.