Cotton is historically associated with Southern plantations, particularly during the 18th and 19th centuries.

Cotton was the primary crop grown on Southern plantations, especially during the 19th century, and became a major driver of the region's economy. The invention of the cotton gin by Eli Whitney in 1793 made cotton cultivation more efficient, leading to its widespread production in the South. This "Cotton Kingdom" relied heavily on enslaved labor, which fueled the plantation economy. Cotton was exported in large quantities to textile mills in Europe and the Northern United States. The crop’s economic importance played a significant role in the events leading up to the Civil War and the history of the American South.