The plantation economy in South Carolina prior to the Civil War significantly impacted small farmers living inland. The most relevant choice from the provided responses would be:
Small farmers shifted away from growing food to grow cotton.
This change occurred because the economic focus on cash crops like cotton, which was highly profitable and in demand due to the textile industry, encouraged small farmers to adapt their farming practices. They began to prioritize the cultivation of cotton over subsistence crops, which impacted their ability to produce food for personal consumption and altered the agricultural landscape of the region. This shift reflects the broader economic pressures and changes brought about by the plantation system, which favored large-scale agriculture and often marginalized smaller, independent farmers.