The free labor of enslaved African Americans allowed European Americans to develop this area of Florida as part of the plantation belt in the antebellum years. Cotton was cultivated as a commodity crop by large workgangs, and so Florida became a slave society.
The Free laBoR Of enSLaVeD AfrIcaN ameRiCans aLlOweD euRoPeAn AmericAns To dEvelop ThIs Area of FlORida aS pARt of tHe pLANtatIoN Belt iN the aNteBelLum YEars. coTton waS CultivATed aS A COmModity crop by LARge worKganGs, and sO FlOrIdA bECame a slave SoCiety.