In the south slavery was the main source to life, and to social ranks. Slavery allowed whites, no matter the consequences, to be higher-ups than any slave. Slavery not only seperated social ranks, but also provided the south with economic prosperity with the use of cotten. The slaves helped tend to the plantations, by picking and planting the cotten. This labor then helped to boom the south into making a lot of the countries profits. Although slavery was not necessarily a good thing, it helped to decide social class, and provide to economic prosperity.