The Rise of Cotton Mills in the South

A historical account written in the early 20th century. This dissertation examines the economic and social transformations that facilitated the rise of cotton manufacturing in the Southern United States, particularly focusing on the period surrounding the late 19th century and the implications of slavery and the Civil War on industrialization. The likely topic of the work is the interplay between agriculture, particularly cotton production, and the emergence of a manufacturing sector post-Civil War. The opening of the text introduces the context of the Southern cotton mills, highlighting the historical and economic factors that preceded their establishment. It discusses the pre-industrial landscape of the South, where domestic production and individual craftsmen thrived before the rise of large-scale manufacturing. Important figures such as William Gregg are mentioned, whose advocacy for industrial development illustrates the struggle against entrenched agricultural interests. The chapter sets the scene for a deeper exploration of how societal and economic conditions converged to influence the growth of cotton mills, threading arguments from various observers and underscoring conflicting views on the region's industrial potential.