In terms of the economy the northern and southern states were very different. The north was more modernized, the development of capitalism and the changes in life through consumption and transportation. In the north (Midwest), there were lots of small farmers. The farmers practices commercial agriculture, this is where farmers grew crops for sale. The farmers will make enough to feed their families. AS industrialization continue to grow the more cities began to pop up. Due to the increase in factories, …show more content…
In the north the majority labor force were immigrants from Europe while in the south, it was the slaves. Many of the Immigrates came to the U. S. because it was perceived as the land of economic opportunity. Others came seeking personal freedom or relief from political and religious persecution. Among all the immigrates that came to the United States, majority of the Irish immigrates began to cause trouble in the north. Major problems arose like crime, alcoholism, fights between the English and fire outbreaks. Alcoholism was a huge factor that lead to wives getting beaten by their drunk husbands, and lead to meaningless fights. To deal with these problems the north built hospitals, schools, police force, prisons and mental institutions. They were cheap labor in the north compared to the plantation owners in the south that were making at least ten times more money. In the south, slaves were the major labor force. Plantation owners needed the slaves to work the fields and pick cotton because no one would be willing to do the harsh labor to the plantation owner