What is one significant difference between the Northern and Southern states prior to the Civil War?

The North relied on the land to support its economy; the South relied on industry
Northern states had mostly small family farms; Southern states had large plantations
Agriculture was the main economic activity in the North; trade was the main economic activity in the South
The Native American population in the North was small; there were thousands of Native Americans in the South

1 answer

One significant difference between the Northern and Southern states prior to the Civil War is that Northern states had mostly small family farms, while Southern states had large plantations. This reflects the contrasting agricultural systems and economic structures between the regions, with the South heavily reliant on cash crops like cotton and the labor of enslaved people on large estates. In contrast, the North's economy was more diversified, with smaller farms and a growing industrial sector.