A Southern plantation is a large agricultural estate found primarily in the southern United States, particularly during the 18th and 19th centuries. These plantations typically focused on the cultivation of cash crops such as cotton, tobacco, and sugarcane. They were often characterized by expansive fields, large homes, and various outbuildings for storage and processing. The operation of a Southern plantation heavily relied on the labor of enslaved people, who were forced to work under harsh conditions. Plantations played a significant role in the economy of the South and contributed to the social and cultural dynamics of the region, influencing everything from architecture to music.