Cotton played a pivotal role in both the economy and politics of the Southern United States, becoming the dominant cash crop in the 19th century. The invention of the cotton gin in 1793 vastly increased productivity, establishing a system dependent on slave labor. This economic reliance intensified the region's agrarian economy and solidified social hierarchies. Politically, cotton's importance led to divisive debates about slavery, contributing to sectional tensions between the North and South. Ultimately, cotton became a symbol of the Confederacy's resistance during the Civil War, highlighting the deep economic and moral divides within the nation.