Doing business in the antebellum South required a very delicate balancing act - with the central role in the process played by the coastal merchant. From this vantage point the merchant manipulated the resources from the up-river suppliers and, through an intricate economic network and banking, provided cotton to the international brokers. It was, in effect, a closed system on each river under the careful control of the coastal merchants. This study focuses on the port of Apalachicola, Florida, and the businessmen who created a chain of international finance and trade in the promotion and distribution of the Old South's major source of income.
ThriftBooks sells millions of used books at the lowest everyday prices. We personally assess every book's quality and offer rare, out-of-print treasures. We deliver the joy of reading in recyclable packaging with free standard shipping on US orders over $15. ThriftBooks.com. Read more. Spend less.