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

Answer 1

One significant difference between the Northern and Southern states prior to the Civil War was their economic structures. The Northern states had a diverse economy that was increasingly industrialized, focusing on manufacturing, trade, and agriculture that relied less on slave labor. In contrast, the Southern states had an economy that was heavily based on agriculture, particularly the production of cash crops like cotton, which relied significantly on enslaved labor. This economic divergence contributed to differing social and political attitudes, ultimately leading to tensions that helped spark the Civil War.