The economies of the Northern and Southern states were different in several ways. The North relied heavily on manufacturing, trade, and commerce, while the South relied upon agriculture, specifically large-scale plantations producing cash crops like cotton, tobacco, and rice. Additionally, the North had a more diverse economy, with various industries and a larger labor force, while the South was more dependent on slave labor. These differences were largely influenced by geography, as the North had more accessible ports and natural resources to support industrialization, while the South had fertile lands suitable for plantation farming. Economic differences eventually contributed to the divide that led to the American Civil War.
