How was the northern United States different from the south?

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How was the northern United States different from the south?
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Introduction

The decades of diversification between the Northern United States and the Southern United states came head to head during the Civil war(1861-65) that shook the United States. The Northern and Southern states followed different paths and developed into two distinct regions.

Explanation

The North US  differed from the South in many ways-

  • The Northern climate and soil were more suitable for the development of farmsteads instead of large plantations. In the South, fertile soil and humid climate favored large scale farms and crops like cotton and Tobacco.
  • The North saw the growth of Industries as it had more natural resources than the South. The North saw the emergence of large cities. By the 1860s, 25% of the Northerners had settled in urban areas. In the South, agriculture sustained the economy, and there was no major Industrial development. The South had no large cities except New Orleans, and hardly 10 percent could live in the urban areas.
  • In the North, the Percentage of laborers working in agriculture dropped from 70% to 40%.In the South, 80% population worked on farms.
  • In the North, slavery had become invisible, and immigrant laborers from Europe worked in the cities and factories. In the South, slavery was still intact, and racial segregation even existed.
  • Immigrants chose to settle in the North over the South as the former offered better wages and living standards.
  • North had a better transportation system, with two-thirds of the railroad tracks situated there. The South had only 35% of the railroad tracks, making transportation difficult.
  • The Northern economy based on industries and manufacturing was growing and witnessing a period of boom. The Southern agriculture-based economy saw stagnation. The Northern states, with their diverse opportunities, grew at faster rates than the South.
  • Northern Children were slightly more literate and attended schools regularly. The Southern Children were prone to spend less time in school.
  • In the North, the Republican Political party was famous, whereas the Southerners preferred the Democratic Political party.
  • Northerners were more likely to make their careers in education, business, and medicine while the Southerners preferred agriculture or military.
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