Topic Two (1.2): The Differences Between North and South
Introduction
This topic considers the different experiences and attitudes in the northern and southern states. In the decades before the Civil War, northern and southern development followed increasingly different paths. By 1860, the North contained 50% more people than the South. It was more urbanized and attracted many more European immigrants. The northern economy was more diversified into agricultural, commercial, manufacturing, financial and transportation sectors.
In contrast, the South had smaller and fewer cities and a third of its population lived in slavery. In the South, slavery impeded the development of industry and cities and discouraged technological innovation. Nevertheless, the South was wealthy, and its economy was rapidly growing. The southern economy largely financed the Industrial Revolution in the United States and stimulated the development of industries in the North to service southern agriculture.
Read and Make Notes
Read pages 4 to 5 in the textbook, and the link below, and carefully make notes on the topic.
Explore
Read the following links and add to your notes:
READ – Civil War Overview: North and South (American Battlefield Trust) Links to an external site.
READ – The American Civil War: A North-South Divide (History Today) Links to an external site.
READ – The South's Economy (Digital History) Links to an external site.
READ – Southern Nationalism (Digital History) Links to an external site.
Task
Have differences been over-emphasised?
READ – Causing the Civil War (Teaching History) Links to an external site.