Changes

The South was largely agrarian.  A Southern boast, "Cotton is king!" became very true by the 1850's, as cotton was grown, harvested, and shipped to market in vast quantities.  The number of bales in 1849 was 2 million; by 1859 it had jumped to 5.7 million, amounting to more than half of all American exports and seven-eighths of the total amount of cotton in the world. (TL 1, pg 10)

The South was largely agrarian.  A Southern boast, "Cotton is king!" became very true by the 1850's, as cotton was grown, harvested, and shipped to market in vast quantities.  The number of bales in 1849 was 2 million; by 1859 it had jumped to 5.7 million, amounting to more than half of all American exports and seven-eighths of the total amount of cotton in the world. (TL 1, pg 10)

Southern poltiics was controlled by owners of large [[slavery|slave]] plantations, the small minority of well-to-do planters.  They practiced a cultivated chivalry, a code of honor among equals with high levels of dueling. Proud parents, when their son came of age, would present him a handsome set of dueling pistols. The code called for a gallantry towards white women, while it was common to have many children by their black slaves; these children became slaves too.   

Southern politics was controlled by owners of large [[slavery|slave]] plantations, the small minority of well-to-do planters.  They practiced a cultivated chivalry, a code of honor among equals with high levels of dueling. Proud parents, when their son came of age, would present him a handsome set of dueling pistols. The code called for a gallantry towards white women, while it was common to have many children by their black slaves; these children became slaves too.   

Cotton was in high demand for textile factories in Europe and profits were high on plantations with 50 or more slaves.  Most of the profits went toward purchase of new farmland (because cotton rapidly depletes the fertility of the soil) and more slaves, as well as cheap clothing for the slaves.  Relatively little was spent on machinery or on luxury goods.  More likely money went to gambling, and racehorses.  High prestige occupations included plantation ownership, the law and medicine. Doctors were hired to keep the slaves healthy.  There were very few colleges in the region, apart from a few small state schools and military academies. One [[Mississippi]] planter, Jefferson Davis, remarked that only in the South "did a gentlemen go to a military academy who did not intend to follow the profession of arms." (TL 1, pg 12)

Cotton was in high demand for textile factories in Europe and profits were high on plantations with 50 or more slaves.  Most of the profits went toward purchase of new farmland (because cotton rapidly depletes the fertility of the soil) and more slaves, as well as cheap clothing for the slaves.  Relatively little was spent on machinery or on luxury goods.  More likely money went to gambling, and racehorses.  High prestige occupations included plantation ownership, the law and medicine. Doctors were hired to keep the slaves healthy.  There were very few colleges in the region, apart from a few small state schools and military academies. One [[Mississippi]] planter, Jefferson Davis, remarked that only in the South "did a gentlemen go to a military academy who did not intend to follow the profession of arms." (TL 1, pg 12)