Northern and Southern Economy By: Kristen Van Gilder Return to Homepage

The difference between the Northern and Southern states led to the controversy on the Slave issue. Because the Northern was mainly states of manufacturing and large cities, they did not have many farms and did not use slaves for labor work. The Southern states had large cotton plantation, and needed the work of slaves to increase the productivity of cotton. Even with the use of the cotton gin, created in the North, the South still decided they needed the laboring hands of the slaves. Other than the issue of slavery, the Northern and Southern states disagreed upon the power of the government. The North wanted to grant the federal government more power. While the South wanted the power to go to individual states. The North also wanted the productivity of roads, railroads, and canals increased, along with the same currency and banking rights. The South did not want to waste money on building transportation systems, and they did not want the banks because that created the cost of cotton to fall. The decision of splitting the North and South by having free states and slave states, created even a larger division within the Nation. It led to separation in Congress and even separation in Political Parties. All the controversies because of the Economy of the states led to the Southern Union, the Confederate States of America. The Economic differences were problems within larger problems and led to the Civil War.

The decision of splitting the North and South by having free states and slave states, created even a larger decision within the Nation. It led to separation in Congress and even separation in Political Parties. All the controversies because of the Economy of the states led to the Southern Union, the Confederate States of America. The Economic differences were problems within larger problems and led to the Civil War.