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Between 1812 and 1860, the United States was growing fast. New states were added, more people moved west, and cotton became one of the biggest crops in the country. These changes brought big growth to Alabama’s economy and social life—but they also brought deep unfairness.
Alabama’s soil was great for growing cotton, and cotton became the most important crop. Many white settlers came to Alabama to start farms and plantations, hoping to get rich. But Alabama’s success was built on the hard work of enslaved people who were forced to plant, pick, and process the cotton. Without their labor, Alabama’s economy could not have grown the way it did. As cotton farming expanded, more enslaved people were brought to Alabama, and slavery spread across the state.
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Alabama’s growth was not just about farming. Many people worked in different trades and jobs. Blacksmiths made tools, store owners sold goods, and manufacturers started making things in small factories. Yeoman farmers (farmers who worked their own small pieces of land) also helped Alabama’s economy by growing crops and raising animals. Busy ports like Mobile shipped cotton and other goods to other places. Railroads and rivers helped move things faster, making trade even bigger.
Towns and cities grew as more people moved to Alabama. New schools, churches, and businesses opened, and many white families lived more comfortably. But life was very different for others. Enslaved people had no freedom, and many Native Americans were pushed off their land as Alabama expanded.
By 1860, Alabama had changed a lot. Its economy was busy and growing, with farms, towns, and trade. But this growth came at a high cost. Much of Alabama’s success was built on the forced labor of enslaved people, who suffered greatly even as the state became richer.