It was crippled by its atavistic clinging to the antiquated notion of Medieval chivalry and its worship of the idealized woman (matriarchy), and, of course, chattel slavery.
A victorious South would have probably set back US industrialization for a bit, but their system was immune to adaptation, being deliberately grounded in European notions of monarchy and noblesse oblige.
It was crippled by its atavistic clinging to the antiquated notion of Medieval chivalry and its worship of the idealized woman (matriarchy), and, of course, chattel slavery.
A victorious South would have probably set back US industrialization for a bit, but their system was immune to adaptation, being deliberately grounded in European notions of monarchy and noblesse oblige.