King Cotton

1. King Cotton Ellen Hicks

2. King Cotton • “King Cotton” can refer to many things: • a diplomacy • a march • fabric • a band • a slogan which was most common.

3. King Cotton • During the Civil War, the Confederate States used “King Cotton” as a slogan. • Cotton was mostly grown in the south. • It was a cash crop. • It was exported to Great Britain and France. Who depended on cotton to make textiles. • Great Britain and France had the machines, but they needed raw cotton. • This gave southerners a sense of power.

4. King Cotton • Southerners believed that cotton exports would make their new country economically secure. • They also believed the cotton could rule the United States. • Senator James Henry Hammond of South Carolina even said in a letter “Cotton is King”. • The cotton growing states seceded from the Union and formed the Confederate States of America. • Once the Confederate States were formed, they stopped all cotton exports in an attempt to force Great Britain and France to support the Confederate States in the war.

5. King Cotton • “King Cotton” was successful in building support for the development of a new country. • However, “King Cotton” was a failure in the bigger picture. • Great Britain and France had large stock piles of cotton; therefore: • The lack of cotton exports did not hurt Great Britain and France. • The value of European cotton increased.

6. King Cotton • Why did “King Cotton” fail? • The Southern States had cotton. • The Northern States had food. • Great Britain and France had stockpiles of cotton, but not food. • With this in mind, Great Britain and France chose not to intervene on behalf of the Confederacy so that they would continue to receive imports of food from the Northern States.

7. King Cotton

8. King Cotton The End