America Before the Civil War
The Northern region housed most of the country's industries because of its soil, climate, and resources. The Northerners were able to have smaller farm areas, causing an outbreak of industries. Many large cities in the North were created during this time as well. By this time, slavery had come to an end in the North, and all the states had become "free states." Factories then became an important part of the North, and transportation was very easy for these citizens. Most people in the Northern region went into business as occupations. The North inhabited mainly all white citizens, and they were mostly all members of the Whig/Republican Party.
The Southern region consisted mainly of tobacco and cotton plants. Agriculture had a huge impact on the South, and all labor was in a field or on a farm. The only large city known in the South at this time was New Orleans. At this time, a third of the Southerners still owned slaves, as the South housed about as many black citizens as it did white. The only form of transportation in the South was to travel by water, as a low percentage train tracks were located in the region. Most citizens in the Southern region went into agricultural or military careers, and they all mainly belonged to the Democratic Party.
The causes of the Civil War are still in debate today, but many historians believe the main factor was the states' rights to own slaves. The Northern states wanted slavery to be abolished completely, while the Southern states wanted their rights and the rights of those territories not yet states to own slaves. Thus, the Civil War occurred.
Resources: http://www.civilwar.org/education/history/civil-war-overview/northandsouth.html
http://www.civilwar.org/education/history/faq/
