Advanced Placement (AP) World History Practice Exam 2026 - Free AP World History Practice Questions and Study Guide

The plantation economy significantly impacted agricultural production by driving the development of large-scale farming operations that relied heavily on cash crops such as sugar, cotton, tobacco, and rice. These plantations became the backbone of economic systems in regions like the American South and the Caribbean, playing a crucial role in shaping local and transatlantic trade dynamics. The reliance on intensive agriculture necessitated the establishment of a labor force, often resulting in the use of enslaved people, which in turn influenced social hierarchies and economic practices. This focus on monoculture and export-oriented production fundamentally changed farming techniques, land use, and the overall agricultural landscape, creating a system that prioritized profitability over subsistence and led to substantial changes in the economies of the regions involved.

While the plantation economy did influence aspects like cultural diversity, religious practices, and political structures, its most direct and profound effect was on agricultural production, reshaping how and what was cultivated on a large scale.