North vs South During the Civil War: Difference and Comparison

During the beginning of the 1800s, the southern and the northern parts grew differently. Thus, it resulted in a war that took a massive shape in 1861.

However, the result was that Northern cities were in a much better state than those present in the southern areas.

Key Takeaways

1. The North, also known as the Union, had a larger population, more industries, and better infrastructure than the South.
2. The South, or the Confederacy, relied heavily on agriculture and slave labor, leading to a rural and less industrialized economy.
3. The key issues dividing the North and South included states’ rights, slavery, and economic and political power.

North vs South During the Civil War

The difference between the north and the south during the civil war is that the northern cities followed the principles of a Republic government when it came to politics and formulation of government viewpoints. However, on the contrary, democratic principles and rules were mostly followed in the southern cities.

During the Civil War in the 1860s, the northern cities became the hub and centres of production and wealth and drew an influx of talented workers.

Secondary and tertiary activities like manufacturing, production, and so on were more prevalent in the northern cities. More resources were available in the northern cities. As a result, they can provide an abundance of both money and men.

During the civil war, the plight of southern cities can be compared to that of northern cities. This area had no significant accumulation of manufacturing, production, or wealth.

Agriculture and the export of plantation crops such as cotton, rice, sugarcane, and tobacco to Europe were the mainstays of southern cities. Compared to the northern cities, the southern cities had fewer resources.

Comparison Table

Parameters of Comparison	North During the Civil War	South During the Civil War
Associated with	Secondary activities, industrialisation	Primary activities, agriculture
In favour of	Anti-slavery	Pro-slavery
	More resources available	Fewer resources available
Type of government	Republic	Democratic
Population	Densely populated	Less population, mostly rural

What is the North During the Civil War?

During the Civil War in the 1860s, the cities in the North became the hub and centres of production and wealth and simultaneously attracted a large number of talented employees.

Manufacturing, production, and other secondary and tertiary businesses were more prevalent in northern cities.

People living in northern cities fought against slavery during the war and even before it to put an end to it. As a result, they were pro-“anti-slavery.”

The North was heavily inhabited due to the prevalence of secondary activities and the fact that it was on the verge of huge industrialisation.

The cities in the north had more resources. As a result, they have a surplus of both money and personnel. The northern cities followed the practices of a Republic government when comparing politics and framing of government viewpoints.

What is the South During the Civil War?

During times of civil conflict, the fate of southern cities can be considered even worse than that of northern cities. No manufacturing, production, or money accumulation here may be of significant worth.

Primary activities such as farming and the export of plantation crops such as cotton, rice, sugarcane, and tobacco to Europe were the mainstays of southern cities.

People in southern cities were in favour of slavery before the Civil War and even throughout it because they benefited from it.

As a result, they were “pro-slavery.” People in Southern cities were more reliant on primary activities. Hence the population was predominantly rural. In comparison to the northern cities, the southern cities had fewer resources.

They did, however, suffer greatly as a result of the scarcity and limited availability of supplies. The cities in the south largely followed democratic principles and rules.

Main Differences Between the North and the South During the Civil War

1. Around the 1860s, when the civil war was going on, the cities present in the North became the hub and centres of manufacturing and wealth and simultaneously attracted an abundant number of skilled workers. On the other hand, the plight of the southern cities at the time of the civil war can be considered as more miserable than that present in the North. Manufacture, production or wealth didn’t accumulate here, which can be of considerable value.
2. The northern cities witnessed more secondary and tertiary activities like manufacturing, production, etc. On the other hand, Southern cities were mostly dependent upon primary activities like farming and the export of plantation crops like cotton, rice, sugarcane and tobacco to Europe.
3. At the time of war and even before that, the people residing in the northern cities fought against slavery to end its practice. Thus, they were in favour of “anti-slavery”. On the other hand, before the Civil war and even during it, the people residing in the southern cities were in favour of the practice of slavery as they were getting benefitted from the same. Thus, they were in favour of “pro-slavery”.
4. Those areas were densely populated as secondary activities were more prevalent in the North and heading towards massive industrialisation. On the other hand, as the people residing in Southern cities were dependent upon primary activities more, thus the population was mostly rural.
5. The northern cities possessed more resources. Thus, they abundantly supply more money and men both. On the other hand, the southern cities possessed fewer resources than the Northern ones. However, they also suffered a lot from the lack and less availability of resources.
6. While comparing politics and framing of government point of view, the northern cities followed the policies of a Republic government. On the other hand, the cities in the south predominantly followed the policies and rules of democracy.

References

1. https://books.google.com/books?hl=en&lr=lang_en&id=4TggPSiunQ8C&oi=fnd&pg=PR11&dq=the+south+and+north+during+civil+war&ots=qsYMLKmGlJ&sig=J-lmXelOuYW6rz2RtPRMjPcX5Tg
2. https://books.google.com/books?hl=en&lr=lang_en&id=O7NvCwAAQBAJ&oi=fnd&pg=PT4&dq=the+south+and+north+during+civil+war&ots=Uga0acVbVr&sig=fHV4dpD4tOTIEenkrh3_pWm5MTo

Last Updated : 11 June, 2023