Question

Why did freeing enslaved people hurt the Southern economy?


Because most of the richest landowners were killed during the Civil War.


Because the freeing of enslaved people meant the landowners lost all their workers.


Because Union soldiers had destroyed many plantations.


Because the war had driven many landowners bankrupt.

Answer 1

The primary reason why freeing enslaved people hurt the Southern economy is **"Because the freeing of enslaved people meant the landowners lost all their workers."**

Prior to the Civil War, the Southern economy was heavily reliant on enslaved labor for its agricultural production, particularly in crops like cotton, tobacco, and sugar. When enslaved people were freed, plantation owners lost their main source of labor, leading to a significant decrease in agricultural output and economic viability in the South. While the other factors mentioned (loss of landowners during the war, destruction of plantations, and bankruptcy) also contributed to the struggles of the Southern economy, the immediate impact of losing enslaved labor was a fundamental and direct blow to the economic structure of the region.