Before the war
First, we should look at the Southern economy before the Civil War began. The years leading up to the Civil War had been excellent for the southern economy, with overall growth shooting up year after year. In 1850, there was $150 million worth of cotton exports. By the year 1860, cotton exports grew to over $350 million. Of course, the growth in cotton was largely due to the fact that the cotton gin had been invented. However, all other parts of the southern economy were prospering as well. The South new that without slavery, its economy would not be able to stand. The South also new Abraham Lincoln wanted to abolish slavery, which they certainly could not allow. However, this raises the question, though the economy may have had good growth, how long would it have lasted if the South had won the Civil War?
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