Slavery was defended for many reasons in the 1800s. Which opinion best explains why some citizens of free states might support slavery? (1 point) O Slaves were needed to build railroads and new cities in the west. Escaped slaves should not be protected by the governments of free states. O New states should be able to choose whether slavery would be legal or not. Southern agriculture was too important to the U. S. economy to lose slave labor.

The best answer is southern agriculture was too important to the U.S. economy to lose slave labor.

Explanation:

Most southerners used salves to support the labor required to grow crops on large plantations. More crops not only meant more money for land owners, but it also kept costs lower for consumers. Without slaves, plantation owners would have to pay for labor, thus raising prices of food, tobaccco and clothing made of cotton. However, this was not a compelling enough reason for the majority of residents in Northern states to support slavery. Northern states had many factories with paid laborers and factory owners were accostomed to paying for labor.