Question

1860 census results for selected states
state\ttotal population\ttotal number of slaves\tslaves as a percentage of population
alabama\t964,201\t435,080\t45%
georgia\t1,057,286\t462,198\t44%
kentucky\t1,155,084\t225,483\t20%
maryland\t687,049\t87,189\t13%
mississippi\t791,305\t436,631\t55%
virginia\t1,596,318\t490,865\t31%
this data could be used to support which conclusion?
states in the upper south were heavily industrialized.
states in lower south had more land devoted to plantations.
border states had to import needed raw materials.
gulf coast states had to rely on steamboats to transport goods.

Explanation:

The table shows slave population percentages: lower South states (Alabama, Mississippi, Georgia) have higher slave percentages (45%, 55%, 44%) than upper South (Kentucky:20%, Maryland:13%). Slavery was tied to plantation agriculture (cash crops like cotton), so higher slave percentages suggest more plantation - related land use. The other options: industrialization (A) isn't supported by slave data, border states' raw material import (C) has no relation to slave stats, and Gulf Coast transport (D) isn't linked to slave percentages.

Answer:

B. States in lower South had more land devoted to plantations.