The American South, had a social system which was distinct in many ways. There was an economy relative to the region, where class structure and a system of racial differences which caused the South to become unique to the rest of the nation. Historians such as James Henretta have said that Capitalism was the cause of all evil within the American South. American Capitalism defined by Max Weber is " a greed for gain", and "acquisition by force, ... whether directly in war or in the form [of] exploitation of subjects". This type of lifestyle within a growing nation could not work with the gentry class which was moving into the region unless there was people to do the work on the farms for them. At first there were indentured servants, but this system of work only worked for a limited time as these servants would work their time of servitude and then leave on their own. The American farmer in the south needed more control on their workers and needed to know that they ( the workers ) weren't going to just leave and start up their own farm for themselves. Thus the manipulation of slave labor became the answer for capitalism, and from the use of black slave labor, tension began to ri

The use of slave labor, was a coerced, cash-crop system of labor from which slavery became an economic necessity because for a person who owned land they needed workers, and these workers were predominantly Negro slaves brought in sold from Africa. To southern colonists, slavery was first an economic institution solely for the purpose of solving an economic problem, that problem - work cost too much money so the colonists implemented forced labor for economic gain. So slavery provided the basis for a special Southern economic and social life which had continued on until the Civil war.

Slavery established the basis of the planter's position and power. It measured his affluence, marked his status, "and supplied leisure for social graces and aristocratic duties." The road of power in the South lay through the plantation and the Master would see to it that his or her plantation be the best. Great planters held enormous power in the southern colonies, they spent much of their free time in leisure, educational pursuits, and participation in public life; George Washington and Thomas Jefferson both were within this group of people. Most planters were also very active entrepreneurs, who would engage in quick profit type situations which would help them make more money on top of the plantation profits made f

Some common words found in the essay are:
Lewis Gray, Tension Slaves, Max Weber, Thomas Jefferson, Planters Farmers, American South, Southern Master, Henretta Capitalism, slave labor, , Capitalism Southern, american south, american south american, workers workers, forced labor, slavery economic, planters farmers, master slaves, cash crops, southern colonies, slaves brought,
Approximate Word count = 882
Approximate Pages = 4 (250 words per page double spaced)