History
America: A Nation Divided, c1845-1877
North and South in c1845
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North and South in c1845
Economic Differences
- North America in 1845 was vividly marked by economic, social, and political differences. The North was experiencing major industrialization, with factories and industries thriving, while the South continued with farming and plantation tradition.
- The surge in population due to large-scale immigration from Europe to the North, mainly by the Irish and Germans seeking better life opportunities, contributed to the economic growth.
- The urbanisation of the North, with numerous factories, shops, and a diverse trade commerce, was in stark contrast to the continued rural nature of the South, focused on farming and manned by enslaved African-Americans.
Social Differences
- Inspired by the industrial revolution, Northern society exhibited a growing middle and working class, whereas Southern society maintained a structure based on an aristocratic plantation owner and slaves.
- Northern society continued to evolve and change with the times, focusing on prosperous business and trade, while Southern society was marked by a rigid, aristocratic structure resistant to change.
Political Differences
- Politically, the sectional differences between the North and South were becoming evident, with the North favouring federal rights, and the South stressing on states' rights.
- The question of slavery, a serious issue that increasingly split the North from the South, played a significant role in their political divide. The North was moving towards abolition, while the South depended heavily on its slave labour for their plantations.
- These differences caused escalating tensions between the two regions, culminating in the Missouri Compromise, a temporary solution that highlighted the brewing conflict regarding slavery and set a precedent for future conflicts.
Cultural and Ideological Differences
- There was a distinct religious divide, with the North being predominantly Protestant and the South being mainly Anglican.
- Manifest Destiny, the belief that American settlers were destined to expand westward, was gaining momentum. This would subsequently lead to Texas's annexation and provoke debates over the spread of slavery, significantly contributing to the escalating tensions between the North and South.
