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How Did Geography Affect The Polarization Of The North And South

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How Did Geography Affect The Polarization Of The North And South
The Civil War that raged across America from 1861-1865 was the result of a gradual polarization of the nation. Even though the North and the South were part of the same country, the societies, economies, and geography made it so that they were like two different nations. One of the things that shaped every aspect of life was the geography. The fertile soil and warm climate of the South made it ideal to plant crops like tobacco, cotton, rice, and indigo. Because farm work was so profitable to the Southerners, 80 percent of the southern population was working on farms. The northern soil and climate did not favor large plantations. In fact, by 1860, one quarter of all northerners were living in urban areas because that is where the factories and

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