One significant difference between the Northern and Southern states prior to the Civil War was the economic structure. The Northern states had a more industrialized economy, with a focus on manufacturing, trade, and commerce. They had a diverse economy that included factories, mines, and urban areas. In contrast, the Southern states had an agrarian economy that heavily relied on plantation agriculture, particularly cotton, tobacco, and rice. The Southern states had a predominantly rural and agricultural society, with an economic system dependent on enslaved labor.
