article 4 Flashcards
empire of cotton
What role did cotton play in the global economy by 1861?
Cotton was the core ingredient of the world’s largest manufacturing industry, accounting for 61% of U.S. exports and employing 20 million people worldwide.
Why did the United States become the dominant cotton producer?
The U.S. had elastic supplies of labor, land, and credit, as well as fertile soil and efficient infrastructure, making it the dominant cotton producer.
How did slavery contribute to the cotton industry?
Slavery provided the necessary labor for large-scale cotton cultivation, driving the industry’s profitability and expansion.
What was the cotton famine, and what caused it?
The cotton famine was a severe shortage of cotton during the Civil War due to the Confederate export ban and northern blockade, which cut off cotton supplies from the South.
How did the emancipation of slaves affect the cotton industry?
Emancipation raised concerns about the availability of labor for cotton production, leading to experiments with free labor systems such as sharecropping and wage labor.
What impact did the American Civil War have on the global cotton market?
The Civil War severed the global cotton supply chain, causing a scramble for alternative sources and demonstrating the interconnectedness of global markets.
What were the key challenges in reconstructing the cotton industry after the Civil War?
The key challenge was finding sufficient labor to replace slave labor, despite the availability of fertile land and favorable climate conditions.
How did the global interconnectedness of the cotton industry become apparent during the Civil War?
Events in the U.S. affected markets, crop choices, and economic stability as far away as India and Egypt, demonstrating the global links in the cotton trade.
