Southern plantation owners
Southern plantation owners were wealthy individuals who operated large farms, known as plantations, primarily in the southern United States during the 18th and 19th centuries. These plantations typically grew cash crops such as cotton, tobacco, and sugar, which were labor-intensive and required significant land and resources.
To manage their plantations, owners often relied on the labor of enslaved people, who were forced to work under harsh conditions. The economic success of these plantations contributed to the growth of the southern economy, but also played a significant role in the social and political tensions leading up to the American Civil War.