Cotton Before Football: A Look Back at Alabama’s King Crop

Since I moved to Alabama, one thing has become abundantly clear: football is king. The fierce loyalty, the packed stadiums, and the pride on game days all speak to Alabama's love for the sport. But, before football became the heartbeat of Alabama, another crop ruled the land—cotton.

For much of Alabama’s history, cotton was far more than just a crop; it was the economic powerhouse that shaped the culture, society, and economy of the state. Known as “King Cotton,” this crop once defined life across the South, with the rich, fertile soil of Alabama playing a key role in making cotton a high-demand commodity across the world.

Cotton in the Time of Slavery: A Glimpse into Alabama’s History

The story of cotton in Alabama—and indeed, throughout the Southern United States—is a complex tapestry woven with wealth, labor, and human suffering. Cotton, often called "King Cotton," dominated the Southern economy during the 19th century. The rich soil of Alabama, particularly in areas like Anniston and across the Black Belt, helped create a cotton-driven economy. But this economic prosperity relied heavily on the forced labor of enslaved people, creating a legacy that continues to shape Alabama and the entire South.

The Rise of Cotton and Slavery in Alabama

Before the cotton boom, Alabama was populated by Native American tribes like the Cherokee, Creek, and Choctaw. However, with the passage of the Indian Removal Act in 1830, white settlers began to seize land from these tribes, forcibly relocating them to lands west of the Mississippi River. This displacement opened vast tracts of fertile land, which, combined with Eli Whitney's invention of the cotton gin in 1793, transformed Alabama into one of the top cotton-producing states by the mid-19th century.

Alabama’s climate and soil were ideal for cotton production, particularly in the Black Belt, a stretch of land known for its dark, fertile soil. Settlers arrived in droves to claim this land, and with them, they brought enslaved Africans, who became the backbone of Alabama’s agricultural labor force. By the 1860s, Alabama's enslaved population accounted for nearly half of its residents, with many forced to work on cotton plantations.

Cotton Plantations and the Institution of Slavery

Cotton plantations were brutal, often requiring year-round labor. From clearing fields and planting seeds to tending the crops and picking cotton, the workload was immense. Enslaved people were responsible for nearly every aspect of cotton production. Under the harsh Alabama sun, they endured long hours and inhumane conditions, forced to labor without pay, freedom, or rights.

The expansion of cotton production intensified the demand for enslaved labor, leading to a dramatic increase in the internal slave trade. The city of Mobile became a key hub, where enslaved people were brought in from Virginia, Maryland, and other Upper South states to work on Alabama plantations. Alabama’s slave population soared, and the forced labor of these individuals generated substantial wealth for plantation owners, who exported cotton to the textile mills of Europe and the Northern United States.

The Impact of Cotton on Anniston and Surrounding Areas

Although Anniston was established as an industrial town in the late 1800s, its surrounding areas were deeply impacted by the cotton economy. While Anniston itself became known for its ironworks, the region’s economy still revolved around agriculture, particularly cotton, which fueled the demand for goods and services that supported the cotton industry.

Anniston’s surrounding Calhoun County was like much of Alabama: deeply enmeshed in a slave economy. Here, as elsewhere in the state, cotton production relied on the forced labor of enslaved Africans who lived under oppressive conditions, deprived of basic human rights and subject to violence and exploitation. The cotton economy became a force that entrenched Alabama’s social and economic structure around a racial hierarchy, with long-lasting effects that extended well beyond the Civil War.

The Civil War and the End of Slavery in Alabama

The reliance on cotton and enslaved labor ultimately contributed to the Civil War, as Southern states, including Alabama, fought to maintain the institution of slavery that supported their agrarian economy. Alabama seceded from the Union in 1861, with many citing the protection of slavery as a primary cause.

The war itself caused devastation across the South, with Alabama no exception. As Union forces advanced, cotton plantations were often targeted, and enslaved people seized opportunities to escape. By the war’s end in 1865 and the ratification of the 13th Amendment, slavery was legally abolished. However, the economic and social ramifications of a society built on cotton and slavery persisted.

Reconstruction and the Legacy of Cotton in Post-Slavery Alabama

After the Civil War, Alabama faced economic collapse. Plantation owners could no longer rely on enslaved labor, and former enslaved people now sought autonomy and paid work. However, the sharecropping system that emerged during Reconstruction, while providing a means of survival for formerly enslaved people, was rife with exploitation. Landowners would often manipulate prices and keep sharecroppers in perpetual debt, maintaining a system that continued to benefit white landowners and perpetuate poverty among Black laborers.

The cotton economy persisted well into the 20th century, as Alabama farmers relied on it for survival. However, soil depletion and the devastation wrought by the boll weevil in the early 1900s diminished cotton yields, signaling an end to Alabama’s reliance on this cash crop. But the social and racial divisions rooted in the cotton era, particularly in places like Anniston, left scars that have yet to fully heal.

Remembering Alabama’s Cotton History Today

Understanding Alabama’s cotton history provides essential context for its present-day social dynamics. The wealth generated by cotton production left a legacy visible in the architecture, institutions, and economic foundations of Alabama, while the exploitation of enslaved people laid the groundwork for entrenched racial inequality.

In Anniston, historical markers and educational initiatives are now working to highlight this painful yet formative period. By acknowledging the forced labor upon which Alabama’s cotton empire was built, we can honor the resilience of those who endured its hardships and seek to address the lasting impact on descendants and communities.

Conclusion

The cotton industry’s roots run deep in Alabama, serving as both an engine for economic growth and a dark chapter of human suffering and exploitation. In remembering this history, we find an opportunity to confront the enduring legacies of injustice and celebrate the resilience and contributions of those whose labor built much of Alabama’s economy and infrastructure. As Anniston and Alabama look to the future, reflecting on this history provides a foundation to foster understanding, equality, and progress for generations to come.