As times went on, the north became increasingly more urban and industrial. They relied on factories and manufacturing to fuel their economy. The north seeked cheap labor from needy immigrants and began to out produce the farming based south. The cities that developed in the North became centers of trade. As mass production began, so did mass population. The north had and extremely strong transportation network as well. They were able to export through convenient water ways nearby the city and railroads ran throughout. On the contrary, the south was more rural and agricultural. The economy stemmed solely from farming and slavery. Slavery was an incredibly cheap solution to production of cash crops in the south such as cotton, tobacco, and rice. While technology became more prevalent, the need for slaves was increased drastically. As opposed to the North, there were very few cities. Plantations were self sufficient and served as small towns. Also, the south was dependent on steam ships as railroads were far less popular than in the north.
In regards to social issues, the North was for a strong central government as opposed to the South. The North was adamant about outlawing slavery and in fact, had a strong core of abolitionists. The North viewed slavery as wrong however; they were also worried that if outlawed, the freed men would travel upwards and take their jobs. In addition, free time revolved around being in the city. The cities became important centers for art, culture, and education. Concerning education, schooling was available however college was reserved for solely the wealthy.
On the other hand, the south believed in the power of states’ rights and the right to secede if it disagreed with federal government. The south was primarily known for as “slave states.” Their focus was on