Which geographical product was most closely associated with the Confederacy's economy?

The Confederacy's economy was predominantly based on agriculture, and cotton was often referred to as "king" during the 19th century due to its immense economic importance. The Southern states, which formed the Confederacy, were well-suited to cotton production thanks to their climate, soil, and the use of slave labor for cultivation. This cash crop not only served as a primary export to markets in Europe, particularly in Britain, but also played a vital role in financing the Confederate war effort. Cotton's centrality to the economy contributed to the Confederacy's identity and its social structure, making it the product most closely associated with their economy. Other options, while significant in different contexts, did not drive the Confederacy's economy to the same extent as cotton.