What practice was primarily used in agriculture before the Civil War in Georgia?

Plantation slavery was the primary agricultural practice in Georgia before the Civil War, based on the state's economy which heavily depended on cash crops like cotton, tobacco, and rice. Wealthy landowners operated large plantations that required a significant labor force to cultivate and harvest these crops. Enslaved Africans were forced to work on these plantations, which allowed for the mass production of crops that contributed to Georgia's economic prosperity as part of the Southern economy.

This system not only dictated the social structure of Georgia but also affected its political landscape, as the interests of plantation owners heavily influenced state and national policies. The reliance on plantation slavery was a defining characteristic of the Antebellum South, with Georgia being no exception. Understanding this context highlights the crucial role that plantation slavery played in shaping the state's agricultural practices leading up to the Civil War.