28

28. Describe the socio-economic differences of the North and South in the Civil War.

The Declaration of Independence, written by Thomas Jefferson stated that "all men are created equal”. However, disseminating slavery proved that these words were far from true.

Thomas Jefferson, George Washington and other leaders of the movement for American independence and freedom opposed the slavery.

The landowners in southern states, on the other hand, defended slavery. Divided views on this matter contributed to differences between the North and the South

The southern landowners were convinced that the cultivation of their fields of tobacco, rice and cotton was impossible without slave workers

In the North farmers did not need slaves to work their land for them because the farms were smaller and the climate was cooler

he northerners opposed the slavery for moral and religious reasons also. By the 1820s both the southerners and the northerners argued whether slavery should be permitted in the new territories that were settled

Even though the southerners were opposed the slavery, farmers from the south did not want to compete with the northerner landowners, who had slaves to work their land for them

Another issue that raised the argument was related to import duties

Northern states favored such duties as they protected their industries against the competition of foreign manufactured goods, while southern states opposed them because they relied upon foreign manufacturers and goods that they were able to assure

Import duties would raise the prices of such goods. During this dispute another important issue was raised

The southerners supported the idea that a state had the right to disobey any federal law if the law would harm the interests of this state

The northerners, on the other side, believed that this right belongs to the Supreme Court and that this doctrine is a threat to the unity of the United States.

The northerners, on the other side, believed that this right belongs to the Supreme Court and that this doctrine is a threat to the unity of the United States.

Despite many compromises that both sides were able to reach (some states permitted slavery, while others were said to decide whether to allow slavery or not)

Despite many compromises that both sides were able to reach (some states permitted slavery, while others were said to decide whether to allow slavery or not)

eventually the South decided to break away from the North. All the differences of the North and the South contributed to economic factors

By the 1860s the North was industrialized, while the South was largely an agricultural territory

The southerners broke away from the rest of the United State because they needed slave workers to assure themselves prosperity.

The northerners were convinced that slavery was evil and it must come to an end, even if the only way to do this was by war.

The Civil War: On March 4, 1861, Abraham Lincoln became the president of the United States

n his inaugural addresses he appealed to the southerners to stay in the Union

He assured them that he would not interfere with slavery in any of the southern states but he would not allow them to divide the United States

The southern states took no notice of the president's appeal and on April 12 Confederate guns opened fire on Fort Sumter, South Carolina

The shots marked the beginning of the Civil War. The North was stronger than the South in materiel resources.

Moreover they outnumbered the southern army, and they men were better supplied with weapons, clothes and food

The only difficulty that the North was faced with was the fact that it could only win the war by invading the South and occupying its land

The South did not need to conquer the North to win the independence; it had to hold out until the northern army was tired of fighting.

Southerners denied that they were fighting only to preserve slavery. The South was fighting for the independence from the North

The war was fought in two main areas - in Virginia and the Mississippi valley. In Virginia the Union armies suffered one defeat after another

These defeats discouraged the supporters of the North. Fortunately for the North, Union forces in the Mississippi valley had more success.

The union forces succeed in seizing an important stronghold, Vicksburg. After bloody fighting and a siege that lasted six weeks, Vicksburg surrendered to a Union army led by General Ulysses S. Grant

The biggest and the most decisive battle of the Civil War was fought at a small town named Gettysburg. General Lee, the Confederate commander marched his army north into Pennsylvania, when a Union army blocked his way

The fighting lasted three days; more than 50,000 people were killed. On the fourth day General Lee broke off the battle

The confederate army had suffered a defeat. By the 1865, the Union forces were able to win a victory over the Confederate army.

The confederate army had suffered a defeat. By the 1865, the Union forces were able to win a victory over the Confederate army.

Finally, on April 9, 1865 General Lee met Grant in a house in a small village, Appomattox and surrendered his army.

Finally, on April 9, 1865 General Lee met Grant in a house in a small village, Appomattox and surrendered his army.