What social, political, and economic changes pulled the North and the South further apart? What was the final determining factor that led to Southern secession? What social and economical changes discussed in previous chapters fueled sectional conflict?
These sites should help you with that.
http://americanhistory.about.com/b/2009/01/13/top-five-causes-of-the-civil-war-2.htm
http://militaryhistory.about.com/od/civilwar/a/CivilWarCauses.htm
http://greatamericanhistory.tripod.com/gr02013.htm
http://shs.westport.k12.ct.us/schager/US%202005-06/Civil%20War/economics%20&_civil_war.htm
The North and the South of the United States were pulled further apart by a combination of social, political, and economic changes. Several key factors contributed to this divide.
1. Social Changes: The North and the South developed different social structures and values over time. The Northern states experienced rapid industrialization, leading to urbanization and a diverse population. They also embraced the ideals of free labor and education for all. In contrast, the Southern states remained predominantly agrarian, heavily reliant on slave labor, and had a more hierarchical society based on the plantation system.
2. Political Changes: The North and the South held divergent views on several political issues. One major disagreement was over the expansion of slavery into new territories. The North wanted to restrict slavery's spread, while the South sought to protect and expand its institution. This led to political battles, such as the Missouri Compromise of 1820 and the Kansas-Nebraska Act of 1854, which intensified sectional tensions.
3. Economic Changes: The Northern and Southern economies developed distinct pathways. The North embraced industrialization, manufacturing, and commerce, while the South focused on agriculture, specifically cash crops like cotton, tobacco, and rice. This economic divide created different labor needs and shaped contrasting economic interests. The profitability of slave labor in the South reinforced the institution of slavery and heightened tensions between the regions.
The final determining factor that led to Southern secession was the election of Abraham Lincoln as President in 1860. The Southern states feared that Lincoln and his Republican Party would restrict the expansion of slavery and potentially abolish it, posing a direct threat to their way of life. Consequently, eleven states in the South seceded from the Union and formed the Confederate States of America, igniting the American Civil War.
The social and economic changes that fueled sectional conflict can be traced back to the issue of slavery. Slavery was deeply intertwined with the Southern economy and way of life. Rapid industrialization and the rise of the free labor system in the North highlighted the moral and economic differences between the regions. These changes included the growth of the abolitionist movement, the publication of influential antislavery literature, and the emergence of sectional political parties like the Republicans. All of these factors exacerbated tensions and led to a clash between the North and the South over the future of slavery in the United States.