The Differences Between the North and the South in the Early 1800’s Study Guide Chapter 19
Geography Climate Compared to the South, the North had colder winters, shorter summers. Agriculture The wide, fertile, coastal plains of the South were ideal for growing cash crops.
Economy The main effect of Eli Whitney’s cotton gin on the South was that cotton became the South’s main crop. The Industrial Revolution began with a dramatic shift from handmade to machine- made goods. Few mills and factories were built in the South because southerners put their money into land and slaves. Cyrus McCormick’s invention of the reaper brought the Industrial Revolution to northern agriculture.
Transportation By 1850, the cheapest and fastest way to move goods in the North was by railroad. Most goods and crops in the South moved by river.
Society The South’s political leaders were wealthy planters. The North attracted more immigrants than the South because it offered more jobs in mills and factories.