Economic Differences
The North's economy in the 1800s was based on industry. They had steel factories, manufacturing facilities, and cities with high populations.
In the southern states the primary crop was cotton. This was needed for the South's survival because cotton was exported to many places in the world. Cotton was the reason Southerners depended so greatly on their slaves. |
State's Rights
State's rights were the amount of independence each single state was allowed; this issue contributed to the division of the country. The North wanted a strong central government, whereas the South wanted individual states to have more rights, and limit the power of the federal government.
Trying to Compromise
Many agreements were made for state's rights including the Missouri Compromise, Fugitive Slave Act, and Kansas-Nebraska Act, but times were getting tense. Congress couldn't compromise any longer. Civil War times were drawing near.
Go to "Abolition" page