Economic Differences Between the North and South

Union Factory

After Eli Whitney invented the cotton gin in 1793, cotton became much more profitable. This machine made separating cotton seeds a much, much faster process. However, the invention of this machine made more plantations move from other crops to cotton, which required more cheap labor, i.e. slaves. The South's economy became mainly based on cotton farming, therefore on slavery. On the other hand, the North's economy was mainly based on industry. In fact, the northern industries began buying raw cotton and turning it into finished goods. This set up a major difference in economic attitudes. The South was based on the plantation system, while the North was based on city life. Many believe that factory workers in the North were treated just as bad as slaves in the South. According to some, the Confederates might have attacked because the Union thought they were better than the Confederates.

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Slave Farm Workers

Union Factory

The South's economy was much worse than the North's, so the North was much richer. This led the South to think that the Union thought they were better than the Confederates. 

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