The plantation economy in South Carolina prior to the Civil War had a significant impact on small farmers living inland. The most relevant option from the choices provided is that small farmers shifted away from growing food to grow cotton.
This shift occurred for several reasons:
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Market Pressure: The lucrative nature of cotton, driven by the high demand in both domestic and international markets, incentivized small farmers to concentrate on cotton production. As large plantations dominated the cotton market, small farmers found themselves pressured to adapt their crops to remain economically viable.
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Competition: The success of the plantation economy, particularly in the lowlands where large-scale cotton production thrived, made it difficult for small farmers to compete. Many small farmers may have felt the necessity to cultivate cotton themselves in order to keep up with market trends and avoid being economically marginalized.
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Resource Allocation: The focus on cash crops like cotton likely led small farmers to allocate more of their land and labor to cotton cultivation instead of growing food crops for subsistence. This change put them at risk, as reliance on a single cash crop can make farmers vulnerable to market fluctuations and crop failures.
In summary, the plantation economy fostered a competitive environment where small farmers felt compelled to shift their agricultural practices towards cash crops like cotton, thereby impacting their economic stability and subsistence patterns.