King Cotton

British textiles mills depended on the American South for 75 percent of their cotton supplies. Southerners had counted on economic need to bring the British to their aid, yet King Cotton failed them.
* failed because productive in prewar years of 1857-1860. Leading to a surplus supply in Britain.
Only affected a year and a half later when thosands of hungry workers lost their job.
This was eased when "certain" americans sent over foodstuffs (food).
Confederates had limited quantity through a blockade.
Lead to Indian and Egyptian cotton growers to raise their prices and increasing output.
King Corn and King Wheat more potent potentates than King Cotton.
* If British would have broken blockade to gain cotton, would have provoked North to war and would have lost its precious granuary.

* The point is that Cotton is important and the stuff mentioned above is how they effected the economy and the ante civil war P.g. 443-444