North and South

Today, we’re exploring the significant differences between the North and South in the United States during the 19th century.

This lesson is a part of Onsego GED Prep.

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1. In the period leading up to the civil war, the economy of the South …

A.had a lot of small, individual farms run by individuals

B.was agrarian and needed a lot of manpower to make that work.

C.had an industrial base

D.All statements are correct

Question 1 of 2

2. The Northern economy …

A. was dependent on slave labor

B.was based on large-scale plantations, cotton and tobacco primarily

C.was similar to the Southern economy

D.was diversified. It had small, individual farms and it had an industrial base.

Question 2 of 2

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Video Transcription

Today, we’re exploring the significant differences between the North and South in the United States during the 19th century.

These differences in economy, culture, and society played a crucial role in shaping the nation’s history and ultimately led to the Civil War.

By the mid-1800s, the North and the South had developed distinct identities.

The North was becoming increasingly industrialized. Factories and mills were producing goods like textiles and machinery. Innovations like the steam engine and expanding railroads made transportation faster and more efficient. Cities grew rapidly as people moved from rural areas and immigrants arrived from Europe, seeking job opportunities in these industries.

In contrast, the South’s economy was primarily agrarian, relying heavily on agriculture. The warm climate and fertile soil made it ideal for growing cash crops, particularly cotton. The invention of the cotton gin by Eli Whitney in 1793 made cotton production more profitable. However, this wealth was built on the back of enslaved labor, with millions of African Americans living and working as slaves on large plantations.

Social structures were also different. In the North, the rise of industry led to a growing middle class and valued education, with many states establishing public school systems. There were significant opportunities for social mobility.

The South had a rigid social hierarchy. At the top were wealthy plantation owners, followed by smaller farmers, and then poor whites. Enslaved African Americans were at the bottom, with no rights or freedoms. The Southern aristocracy held considerable power and resisted changes to the established order.

Culturally, the North was more urban and cosmopolitan, with cities as centers of culture and reform movements. Abolitionist sentiments were strong, with many people actively working to end slavery.
The South was predominantly rural with few large cities. Its culture was heavily influenced by the agrarian lifestyle and slavery, characterized by a slower pace, strong family and community ties, and a code of honor.

These economic, social, and cultural differences led to growing tensions, especially over slavery. Northerners increasingly saw slavery as morally wrong, while Southerners defended it as essential for their economy. Political conflicts over the expansion of slavery into new territories heightened these tensions, setting the stage for the Civil War.

This lesson is a part of our GED Social Studies Guide

Last Updated on October 19, 2025.