Directions:
Create two columns similar to the ones below. You will
use the Expert Information listed underneath the two columns to research major
differences between the North and the South. Take notes in your columns. Use
the following words somewhere in your columns: agricultural,
cash crop, free blacks, free labor, factory system, free, immigrants,
manufacturing, plantation, plantation system, rural, slaves, slave labor,
transportation, urban centers
When done taking notes in your column, answer the following question below in a few complete sentences: predict how these differences might contribute to sectionalism.
When done taking notes in your column, answer the following question below in a few complete sentences: predict how these differences might contribute to sectionalism.
The North |
The South |
Geography:
Economy: Transportation: Society: |
Geography:
Economy: Transportation: Society: |
Q: Predict how these differences might contribute
to sectionalism.
Include the definition of sectionalism in your answer.
Include the definition of sectionalism in your answer.
Expert Information
Northerners and
Southerners shared a common language and worshipped in the same kinds of
churches. They shared an intense pride in their country and a firm belief in
democracy. Upon closer examination, however, there were many differences
between the North and South. The two sections differed in their geography,
economies, systems of transportation, and society.
In terms of geography the North had four distinct seasons. The soil had some variations with rocky thin soil in the New England area and rich fertile rich soil from Pennsylvania to Iowa. There were many fast moving rivers and large forested area. In contrast, the South had mild winters and hot humid summers. Throughout most of the region, the soil was rich and fertile.
The terrain varied from coastal plains and swampy lands in the east, known as the Tidewater Region to rolling hills and mountain hollows at the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains.
The economy of the North was based on manufacturing and business. There were factories using steam powered machines and operated by unskilled laborers, many of whom were recent immigrants from European countries like Germany and Ireland.
In the North farming was also a large part of the economy, the difference was that in the North it was a smaller scale, farmers grew surplus food crops to sell in the market place - (corn, oats, wheat, barley, and garden vegetables). In comparison, in the South, agriculture was the major focus of the economy and revolved around cash crops. The major cash crop grown was cotton, which by the mid 19th Century had become “king”. Other cash crops (non-food crops) included indigo, rice and tobacco. These cash crops were grown on plantations-large farms usually growing one crop exclusively. Because of the large amount of labor required to operate these plantations, plantation owners found it economically effective to rely on slave labor, this is known as the plantation system.
Transportation systems in the North were very developed due to the manufacturing and large populated cities that developed there. There were a variety of forms which included road systems, canals, steamboats and 20,000 miles of railroads. The canals and steamboat systems were needed to transport the vast amounts of manufactured goods created and were easy to develop due to the vast waterways. In the South, transportation was less advanced. For instance, there were less than 10,000 miles of railroads, there were no canals, few roads and water transportation was the main method of transporting goods. The Mississippi River was the most traveled waterway and the many slow moving rivers in the South were easily navigated by steam-powered riverboats.
Northern society was very diverse due to the large urban centers and job opportunities that attracted immigrants from many countries. Furthermore free blacks populated Northern society due to the fact that by 1830 slavery had been abolished throughout the North. Many people flocked to Northern cities for the variety of opportunities resulting in the North having a larger population. The factory systems in these urban centers relied on free labor (workers that are paid). This free labor system was available to all, though free blacks were legally restrained from full participation as legal citizens and were often forced to remain in poverty and separate from white society. Urbanization resulted in a fast paced lifestyle compared to the rural areas outside of the cities. Society in the South differed and was less diverse. Instead of large urban centers much of the South was rural, populated mainly by small scale farmers who owned few to no slaves, plantation owners with large land holdings and slaves. Despite being a small portion of Southern society, plantation owners held a majority of the economic, political, and social power. The slaves on the plantations had virtually no standing in society, yet made up a large portion of the population in some southern states. Slaves had no legal rights, were closely watched and were very limited in what they could do on their own. A small number free blacks lived in the South holding jobs as craftsmen and farmers, however, they had even less freedoms than the free blacks in the North.
These differences in geography, economy, transportation and society led to conflicting views on many issues - so much so, that over time sectionalism developed and Northerners and Southerners seemed to be living in two different worlds.
In terms of geography the North had four distinct seasons. The soil had some variations with rocky thin soil in the New England area and rich fertile rich soil from Pennsylvania to Iowa. There were many fast moving rivers and large forested area. In contrast, the South had mild winters and hot humid summers. Throughout most of the region, the soil was rich and fertile.
The terrain varied from coastal plains and swampy lands in the east, known as the Tidewater Region to rolling hills and mountain hollows at the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains.
The economy of the North was based on manufacturing and business. There were factories using steam powered machines and operated by unskilled laborers, many of whom were recent immigrants from European countries like Germany and Ireland.
In the North farming was also a large part of the economy, the difference was that in the North it was a smaller scale, farmers grew surplus food crops to sell in the market place - (corn, oats, wheat, barley, and garden vegetables). In comparison, in the South, agriculture was the major focus of the economy and revolved around cash crops. The major cash crop grown was cotton, which by the mid 19th Century had become “king”. Other cash crops (non-food crops) included indigo, rice and tobacco. These cash crops were grown on plantations-large farms usually growing one crop exclusively. Because of the large amount of labor required to operate these plantations, plantation owners found it economically effective to rely on slave labor, this is known as the plantation system.
Transportation systems in the North were very developed due to the manufacturing and large populated cities that developed there. There were a variety of forms which included road systems, canals, steamboats and 20,000 miles of railroads. The canals and steamboat systems were needed to transport the vast amounts of manufactured goods created and were easy to develop due to the vast waterways. In the South, transportation was less advanced. For instance, there were less than 10,000 miles of railroads, there were no canals, few roads and water transportation was the main method of transporting goods. The Mississippi River was the most traveled waterway and the many slow moving rivers in the South were easily navigated by steam-powered riverboats.
Northern society was very diverse due to the large urban centers and job opportunities that attracted immigrants from many countries. Furthermore free blacks populated Northern society due to the fact that by 1830 slavery had been abolished throughout the North. Many people flocked to Northern cities for the variety of opportunities resulting in the North having a larger population. The factory systems in these urban centers relied on free labor (workers that are paid). This free labor system was available to all, though free blacks were legally restrained from full participation as legal citizens and were often forced to remain in poverty and separate from white society. Urbanization resulted in a fast paced lifestyle compared to the rural areas outside of the cities. Society in the South differed and was less diverse. Instead of large urban centers much of the South was rural, populated mainly by small scale farmers who owned few to no slaves, plantation owners with large land holdings and slaves. Despite being a small portion of Southern society, plantation owners held a majority of the economic, political, and social power. The slaves on the plantations had virtually no standing in society, yet made up a large portion of the population in some southern states. Slaves had no legal rights, were closely watched and were very limited in what they could do on their own. A small number free blacks lived in the South holding jobs as craftsmen and farmers, however, they had even less freedoms than the free blacks in the North.
These differences in geography, economy, transportation and society led to conflicting views on many issues - so much so, that over time sectionalism developed and Northerners and Southerners seemed to be living in two different worlds.
Trade Notes for
"North and South Differences"
The North |
The South |
Geography:
North
four distinct seasons rocky thin soil in the New England area fertile rich soil from Pennsylvania to Iowa fast moving rivers forests Economy: North based on manufacturing and farming large cities steam-powered machines free labor unskilled laborers worked in factories farmers grew surplus food crops to sell Transportation: North roads steamboats canals 20,000 miles of railroads Society: North lots of immigrants (German, Irish) free blacks cities/urban centers fast paced lifestyle |
Geography:
South
mild winters and hot, humid summers coastal plains, swampy land Tidewater rolling hills, mountain hollows Economy: South based on agriculture cash crops (tobacco, indigo non-food crops) cotton plantation system used slave labor slave labor Transportation: South steam-powered riverboats navigable rivers Mississippi River important 10,000 miles of railroads Society: South rich planters lived on plantations (lots of power) farmers owned few to no slaves slaves few free blacks (craftspeople) |