Civil War Era Differences
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Civil War Era Differences
Historical snapshot: North and South around 1860
The United States had deep regional differences before the Civil War began in 1861. In the North, a larger share of people lived in towns and cities, and manufacturing, trade, and farming all contributed to the economy. A more extensive network of railroads helped move people and goods. In the South, the economy depended more heavily on agriculture, including cotton and other crops. Enslaved people were forced to do much of the labor on plantations and were denied freedom and basic rights. Slavery was a central cause of the conflict. Disputes over its expansion into western territories, along with arguments about federal power, intensified sectional tensions. These broad patterns did not describe every person or community in either region.
Measure
Northern states
Southern states
Population
About 19 million
About 9 million, including about 3.5 million enslaved people
Railroad track
About 22,000 miles
About 9,000 miles
Read, compare, and reason
Use the snapshot and table as evidence. Remember that historical explanations should distinguish facts from opinions.
- The North relied more on manufacturing and trade, while Southern agriculture was especially important.
- The South had no farms, while the North had no factories.
- Both regions depended only on mining.
- The North and South had exactly the same economy.
- A. Manufacturing
- B. Agriculture
- C. Sectional tensions
- 2. Making goods, often in factories
- 1. Growing disagreements between regions
- 3. Growing crops and raising animals
3 printable pages
Page 1
Page 2
Page 3
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