US North-South Divide

Question 1

Economic differences before the Civil War (North)

Answer 1

• Population was 18.65 million
• Growing number of immigrants, 1 in 30 were foreign born
• A quarter of the population lived in towns
• Industry growth such as engineering and textiles
• The north had twice as much railroad track
• The north favoured tariffs to protect new industries from competition in Europe

Question 2

Economic differences before the Civil War (South)

Answer 2

• Population was 10.5 million
• 1 in 14 lived in towns
• Only 20 towns with 2000 or more people
• Didn’t welcome industrialisation
• Large farming based economy
• Dependent on Northern credit to finance plantations (sugar, cotton, tobacco) and transport/market their goods
• South supported free trade in order to encourage greater trade with Britain

Question 3

Cultural differences
(North)

Answer 3

• Identity based on free labour, liberty and puritanical Christianity
• Generally better educated & more willing to accept new ideas, reform
• Viewed Southerners as ‘backwards’ and ‘out of touch’

Question 4

Cultural differences
(South)

Answer 4

• ‘Code of honour’ was still important, (if honour questioned, defend until death)
• Independent Southern nationalism developed based on slavery, honour and strong Christian faith
• Tended to resent change
• Viewed Northerners as ‘ill-mannered’ and ‘aggressive’

Question 5

Political differences
(North)

Answer 5

• Politicians were less hostile to the growth in power of the President and Congress
• Less supportive of the rights of individual states

Question 6

Political differences
(South)

Answer 6

• Many Southern states/Democrats were anxious about a president or Congress introducing laws which might affect their interests e.g. slavery
• Wanted to ensure that states kept their power to legislate their own laws rather than the federal government

Question 7

Slavery
(North)

Answer 7

• 1777-1858: 19 Northern states banned slavery (‘free’ states)
• Most of the North held the similar opinion that slavery should be abolished
• Not necessarily tolerant of racial issues
• Convinced that slavery went against the Declaration of Independence and that many slaves were treated badly

Question 8

Slavery
(South)

Answer 8

• Strongly supported for economic, social and political reasons
• Economy of the South relied on cotton, tobacco which were labour intensive
• Slaves became a measure of wealth/sign of status
• Plantation owners were convinced of the economy collapsing w/o cheap slave labour and interference of the North
  -Also believed that ending slavery could lead to race war
• 3/5 Compromise: every 5 slaves were counted as 3 white people