One significant difference between the northern and southern states prior to the Civil War was their economic systems. The North had a rapidly industrializing economy with a focus on manufacturing, trade, and commerce. On the other hand, the South had an agrarian economy that heavily relied on plantation agriculture, particularly the production of cotton, tobacco, and rice. The South's economy was dependent on slave labor, while the North has generally abolished slavery by this time, leading to significant economic and societal contrasts between the two regions.
