Differences between the North and South Notes

The Industrial Revolution ~Period of rapid growth using machines for manufacturing and production that began in the mid-1700’s ~Began in Great Britain & spread to the United States

The North – Climate and Geography Warm, humid summers and cold snowy winters Short growing season plus cold made farming difficult. Clear, fast rivers & coastline full of bays. Cities developed near water as trading centers. People begin to use waterpower to run factories.

Population Huge population increase in the North between 1800 and 1860, mostly through immigration. Irish, German, and other Europeans mostly settle in North.

Cities Factories were set up making textiles (cloth goods) Increase in factory work brought more people to live in the cities. Cities were crowded and dirty. Public education begun in cities for first time. Cities became important centers of art, culture, and education.

Culture Determined by life in the cities Both religion and education were organized There were grammar (elementary) schools and churches in most towns. Very few boys, and almost no girls went on to secondary school College was reserved for the wealthy =

Transportation Canals were mostly in the North. The Erie Canal was a huge success. Most of the railroads were in the North. 30,000 miles of track was laid by 1850. Canals and railroads allowed northern businesses to grow.

Economy The economy of the North was based on manufacturing. Manufacturing was done in the North’s factories. *Play Video #1*

North-Textile Industry Richard Arkwright Englishman who invented the “Water Frame” -Could produce dozens of cotton thread at the same time (vs. only one thread at a time before) -Made Britain world’s most productive textile manufacturers Samuel Slater British Parliament wanted to protect their industry-made it illegal to send plans or leave the country -Skilled British mechanic who disguised himself as a farmer to immigrate to the US -Worked with Moses Brown, owner of a textile business, opened the first Mill in Rhode Island to produce cotton thread

North-Weapons Industry Eli Whitney American Inventor Gun Manufacturing & Factory Technology The Cotton Gin America needed to make muskets more quickly Interchangeable Parts-idea to use parts of a machine that are identical which lead to mass production… Mass Production-efficient production of large numbers of identical goods

North – Effects of Manufacturing Growth British less land available + more factory workers =large amounts more rapidly than Americans, making their prices lower

North – Effects of Manufacturing Growth America -economy was strong in cotton goods, flour milling, weapons and iron production -relying too much on foreign goods -following the War of 1812 (which prevented importing foreign goods), Americans were led to buy American-made goods…which led to increased American manufacturing.

The Industrial Revolution The South

Climate and Geography Warm and sunny with long summers, mild winters. Lots of rain. Climate ideal for agriculture. Fertile soil ideal for growing crops.

Population Population of the South made up of Europeans (mostly from England and Scotland) and enslaved Africans. 1/3 of the population were slaves. 1/4 of farmers owned slaves. Large farms called plantations were owned by the wealthy few who owned most of the slaves.

Cities Most southerners lived on farms. There were very few large cities. Plantations were self-sufficient and became like small towns.

Economy The economy of the South was based on agriculture. Cotton, tobacco, rice, sugar cane, and indigo (a plant that was used for blue dye) were sold as cash crops. Cotton became the most important crop after Eli Whitney’s invention of the cotton gin. More slaves were now needed to pick the cotton. Slavery became essential to the South’s economy.

Cotton Boom

What was the Cotton Boom? Cause: Whitney’s invention of the cotton gin made production so quick and so profitable (1791) 2 Million lbs.------------- (1860) 1 Billion lbs. Area of high cotton production=“Cotton Belt” (Virginia to Texas) Shipped mainly on the region’s rivers

Effects of the Cotton Boom Positive Negative Growth of economy Increased reliance on one crop-cotton Build-up of wealth Embedded the institution of slavery Major player in world trade Increased internal slave trade (between states) Growth of cotton-related industries

Culture The upper class was the plantation owners and their families. Only children of plantation owners received any education. Small farmers had little or no education. The culture of the South revolved around plantation life.

Transportation The South was still dependant on the steamship. Railroads existed, but far less than in the North.