The history of cotton fields and slavery is deeply intertwined, particularly in the United States. In the 18th and 19th centuries, the Southern economy relied heavily on cotton production, which was labor-intensive. Enslaved African Americans were forced to work long hours in the fields under brutal conditions to cultivate and harvest cotton.

The invention of the cotton gin in 1793 significantly increased the demand for cotton, further entrenching slavery in the South. Cotton became the dominant crop, and by the mid-19th century, the U.S. was the world's largest producer. This system of exploitation fueled the economy of the South while causing immense suffering for enslaved people.

The end of slavery came with the conclusion of the Civil War in 1865, but the legacy of this exploitation has had long-lasting effects on African American communities and the history of the United States.