The economy of the Northern states was primarily industrialized and focused on manufacturing and trade, while the Southern states relied heavily on agriculture and slave labor, particularly in the production of cotton. The Northern states had a more diversified economy and a larger population, while the Southern states were more agrarian and had a smaller population. The development of these differing economies was largely influenced by geographic factors, such as the availability of natural resources and the climate, as well as historical events like the institution of slavery.
