The history of Mississippi was built on three ideas: cotton, slavery and land ownership. Privileged white planters who owned the land and slaves grew cotton and ruled Mississippi society. The Civil War destroyed the foundations of Mississippi society. Slavery no longer exists, cotton is no longer king, and being white and owning land is not the basis of political power. Other industries took their place alongside cotton. Mississippi is a more integrated society, but not without its challenges. Cotton was once the king cotton of Mississippi, but gradually cotton gave way to other industries. Mississippi was the largest producer of cotton in the United States before the Civil War. In order to produce so much cotton, Mississippi needed a large and cheap labor force to make it profitable. This work came from slaves. Mississippi's slave population before the Civil War was more than 430,000, compared to only 350,000 Caucasians. After the Civil War, cotton's hold on the economy weakened. Although it is still an important crop in Mississippi, bringing in nearly $600 million, it ranks behind poultry and forestry. Other industries also took root in Mississippi. For example, there is a Nissan plant in Canton, not far from Jackson. Another example is the fact that 60% of farm-raised catfish is produced in Mississippi. Slavery in Mississippi consisted of a harsh existence of more than twelve hours in the cotton picking fields. After the Civil War, the “semi-slavery” of Jim Crow's regime in Mississippi was little better. African Americans were kept in their place by racist laws, including Plessy v. Ferguson, who allowed the “separate but equal” doctrine to prevail for more than sixty years. Many African Americans worked as sharecroppers picking cotton... middle of paper ... I have yet to elect another African American to such a high office. Mississippi's history is built on cotton and slavery. and land ownership. The Civil War, World War II, and the Civil Rights Movement greatly changed the appearance of Mississippi society. Cotton lost ground to industries like poultry and catfish farming. And while there are still policy steps to be taken to move Mississippi toward a society where anyone can be whatever he or she chooses to be in Mississippi, even 2011 Governor Johnny Dupree was nominated as the Democratic candidate for governor of Mississippi. Textbook: History of Mississippi, Part 1; History of Mississippi, Part B http://thegrio.com/2011/08/25/why-is-mississippi-so-red-when-its-so-black/ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ Jefferson_Davishttp://mshitorynow.mdah.state.ms.us/articles/206/the-road-to-war-1846-1860