The labor of enslaved people in the Southern United States contributed significantly to the production of which agricultural commodity?

The labor of enslaved people in the Southern United States was a fundamental element in the production of cotton, which became the dominant agricultural commodity by the mid-19th century. The invention of the cotton gin in 1793 significantly enhanced the efficiency of cotton processing, making it highly profitable. This led to an expanded demand for cotton, both domestically and internationally, particularly in Britain, where the industrial revolution was driving the need for raw materials.

Enslaved labor was central to the cultivation, harvesting, and processing of cotton on large plantations. The reliance on this labor system created a deeply entrenched socio-economic structure in the South, which was marked by the exploitation of enslaved people for agricultural output. This economic model solidified cotton's role as "King Cotton," illustrating its importance not just to the Southern economy but also its substantial influence on national politics and society leading up to the Civil War.

While other commodities like sugar, tobacco, and rice were also cultivated by enslaved labor, none matched the scale and economic impact of cotton during this period, making it the key agricultural product associated with the Southern slave economy.