Differences Between the North and the South

Slavery

The North opposed slavery

Slavery was morally wrong

The South supported slavery

Slavery was needed to support the agricultural economy

The North The South

State’s Rights

The needs of the National Government overruled the needs of individual states

Breaking away from the U.S. was seen as an act of treason

The needs of the individual states should not be overruled by the national government

States had the right to break away from the U.S.

The North The South

The Economy

Poor farmland and the abundance of mineral resources

Industry and factory work were the main source of income

Excellent farmland, few mineral resources, and abundant slave labor

Few factories, farming was the main source of income

The North The South

Tariffs (Taxes on imported goods)

Higher tariffs meant that European goods wouldn’t outsell American made textile products

Higher tariffs meant that imported goods from Europe would cost more

High tariffs would hurt the South’s cotton economy

The North The South

Culture

Larger cities with larger populations

The North was more diverse (free blacks and immigrants from Europe)

More rural areas led people to be more independent

The South had a smaller population

The North The South

Education

Schools provided more educated workers for businesses and industry

Free education was provided through High School

The rural lifestyle did not require high levels of education

Only rich planters could afford private tutors

The North The South

Sectionalism

Viewed the South as a backward society that advocated slavery

Viewed themselves as more educated and more modern that then South

Viewed the North as arrogant and believed that the Southern way of life was justified

Viewed themselves as being more cultured and traditional than the North

The North The South

The North The South