the economy:
North vs. south
The Civil War that raged across America was the violent conclusion to decades of one nation growing apart into two opposing groups that soon evolved into two distinct regions. One of the most significant factors that created the difference between the North and South was each side’s version of a stable economy, also influenced by the location of each region.
In the North, the rocky soil and colder climate favored smaller farms that were used solely for survival rather than financial dependency like the South, with an economy based on agriculture and farming. Instead, the manufacturing industry flourished in the North, fueled by more abundant natural resources, like whale oil, than in the South. Starting in the early 1600s, many northern cities were also established like New York City, which was the largest city in the nation populated by over 800,000 people. Between 1800 and 1860, the percentage of laborers working in agricultural pursuits significantly dropped from 70 to only 40 percent, and by 1860, the North progressed so rapidly that one quarter of all Northerners now lived in developed, urban areas. When slavery had died out in the North, European immigrants replaced them becoming the laborers that worked in northern factories for expanding manufacturing companies that quickly caught onto the idea of mass production soon to be powered by additional technological advancements. Furthermore, transportation was easier in the North because of developments such as the train that were constantly in use that caused more than two-thirds of all the railroad tracks in the country to go on a financial upswing boosting the North’s economy. As for careers, far more Northerners than Southerners were more likely to have jobs in business, medicine, or education. The likelihood of attaining these professions was partly caused by more Northern children attending school and receiving a suitable education rather than the South.
The southern economy was based on agriculture and farming, that depended on slavery to support their economy. Southern farmers produced multiple crops like indigo and corn, but the most popular were cash crops that included cotton and tobacco. In the South, some manufacturing took place like the North because they had to import various products and commodities involving certain demands in the trading industry. Unlike the North, the South opposed taxes and tariffs claiming that it hurt their economy by increasing the cost of imported goods which was known as the Tariff of Abominations. In addition, there were no large cities in the South, aside from New Orleans. Other, larger towns were located on rivers and coasts used as shipping ports to send agricultural produce to European or Northern destinations. The fertile soil and warm climate of the South made it ideal for large-scale farms, and because agriculture was so profitable, few Southerners saw a need for major industrial development. Only one-tenth of Southerners lived in urban areas because transportation between cities was difficult, except by water. Furthermore, a smaller percentage of white Southerners were more literate than their Northern counterparts because of the South’s culture where children tended to spend less time in school, and more hours in the day working in the family farm. A significant amount of Southerner’s also gravitated toward military careers besides agriculture or trade based occupations.
In the North, the rocky soil and colder climate favored smaller farms that were used solely for survival rather than financial dependency like the South, with an economy based on agriculture and farming. Instead, the manufacturing industry flourished in the North, fueled by more abundant natural resources, like whale oil, than in the South. Starting in the early 1600s, many northern cities were also established like New York City, which was the largest city in the nation populated by over 800,000 people. Between 1800 and 1860, the percentage of laborers working in agricultural pursuits significantly dropped from 70 to only 40 percent, and by 1860, the North progressed so rapidly that one quarter of all Northerners now lived in developed, urban areas. When slavery had died out in the North, European immigrants replaced them becoming the laborers that worked in northern factories for expanding manufacturing companies that quickly caught onto the idea of mass production soon to be powered by additional technological advancements. Furthermore, transportation was easier in the North because of developments such as the train that were constantly in use that caused more than two-thirds of all the railroad tracks in the country to go on a financial upswing boosting the North’s economy. As for careers, far more Northerners than Southerners were more likely to have jobs in business, medicine, or education. The likelihood of attaining these professions was partly caused by more Northern children attending school and receiving a suitable education rather than the South.
The southern economy was based on agriculture and farming, that depended on slavery to support their economy. Southern farmers produced multiple crops like indigo and corn, but the most popular were cash crops that included cotton and tobacco. In the South, some manufacturing took place like the North because they had to import various products and commodities involving certain demands in the trading industry. Unlike the North, the South opposed taxes and tariffs claiming that it hurt their economy by increasing the cost of imported goods which was known as the Tariff of Abominations. In addition, there were no large cities in the South, aside from New Orleans. Other, larger towns were located on rivers and coasts used as shipping ports to send agricultural produce to European or Northern destinations. The fertile soil and warm climate of the South made it ideal for large-scale farms, and because agriculture was so profitable, few Southerners saw a need for major industrial development. Only one-tenth of Southerners lived in urban areas because transportation between cities was difficult, except by water. Furthermore, a smaller percentage of white Southerners were more literate than their Northern counterparts because of the South’s culture where children tended to spend less time in school, and more hours in the day working in the family farm. A significant amount of Southerner’s also gravitated toward military careers besides agriculture or trade based occupations.