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You are simply wrong. The South before 1860 was doing much better than the North economically.

There was no government dole at the time. I have no idea what your source for that info is but it is wrong.

I once did extensive research on census records while researching one of my ancestors. I can't remember if it was 1850 or 1860 but one of those listed a persons personal wealth.

It was surprising (maybe even astounding) how many wealthy people lived in many of those Southern Counties.

The reason the South was poor after 1860 was obvious, much of it destroyed and what was left was raped by carpetbaggers. Some Southern States did not finish paying off bonds passed by crooked reconstruction governments until the 1960's.

The South before 1860 was doing much better than the North economically.

So the 4 million slaves all lived in their own nice houses and were able to provide their children with the education to grow up and make the most out of the American dream?

It was surprising (maybe even astounding) how many wealthy people lived in many of those Southern Counties.

It's amazing how wealthy one can get if he doesn't have to pay his employees and they are not allowed to leave the workplace.