How did the cotton boom affect poor whites in South Carolina prior to the civil war?

Answer 1

The cotton boom in South Carolina prior to the Civil War significantly impacted poor whites by creating a stark economic divide. While wealthy plantation owners profited immensely from cotton production, many poor whites found themselves struggling for stable employment and often resorted to low-wage labor or subsistence farming. The boom did lead to some opportunities for poor whites to work as laborers or in support roles on plantations, but it also heightened competition for jobs and resources, exacerbating social tensions and class divisions within the region. Overall, the prosperity of the cotton economy did not translate into widespread benefits for the poorer white population.