Economic and Social differences of the North and the South
By the early 1800s the United States was starting to separate into two sections, the Northern states vs. the Southern states of America. Although both sections had the same flag, spoke the same language, and had the same president, the two regions seemed to be two separate countries, each one having different views and political opinions. This mostly showed in the social and economic conditions. But, because they were the same country, they had some similarities.
The economies of each region at the time were only similar in the way they were expanding and growing stronger. One way the two regions differed in economics was in the base of their economy. For example, the South’s economy was based on cotton farming, while the North’s economy was based on manufacturing. Because the South did not manufacture goods, they were forced to purchase products from the North to, thus adding to the North’s economy. Then, with the South’s money the North would purchase cotton from the southern states. Also, in the South, there were hardly any job opportunities for whites since slaves were used on the fields, but unlike the North, where job opportunities were great and mainly were abundant in factories for the unskilled workers. Many of these workers were immigrants from Ireland and Germany looking for work due to crop failure in their homeland.
While on the topic of immigrants, this brings me to how the to areas compared and contrasted in their social conditions. In comparison, in both the Southern and Northern states, people were biased against certain groups of people. In the North groups of nativists wanted immigrants out and blamed them for the higher crime rates, and for taking jobs from native born Americans, likewise the South discriminated and used African Americans as property of whites.
The economies of each region at the time were only similar in the way they were expanding and growing stronger. One way the two regions differed in economics was in the base of their economy. For example, the South’s economy was based on cotton farming, while the North’s economy was based on manufacturing. Because the South did not manufacture goods, they were forced to purchase products from the North to, thus adding to the North’s economy. Then, with the South’s money the North would purchase cotton from the southern states. Also, in the South, there were hardly any job opportunities for whites since slaves were used on the fields, but unlike the North, where job opportunities were great and mainly were abundant in factories for the unskilled workers. Many of these workers were immigrants from Ireland and Germany looking for work due to crop failure in their homeland.
While on the topic of immigrants, this brings me to how the to areas compared and contrasted in their social conditions. In comparison, in both the Southern and Northern states, people were biased against certain groups of people. In the North groups of nativists wanted immigrants out and blamed them for the higher crime rates, and for taking jobs from native born Americans, likewise the South discriminated and used African Americans as property of whites.