The Worlds of North and South

These flashcards cover essential vocabulary and concepts related to the differences between the North and South in 19th-century America.

Eli Whitney

Inventor known for creating the cotton gin, which revolutionized cotton production in the South.

Cotton gin

A machine invented by Eli Whitney in 1793 that efficiently removed seeds from cotton fibers.

Agrarian

A person who favors an agricultural way of life and supports policies that benefit agriculture.

Plantation

A large area of privately owned land where crops were grown, typically using slave labor.

Deforestation

The clearing away of forests to make way for agriculture and industry.

Industrial Revolution

A period of significant technological advancement that shifted economies from agriculture to industry, starting in the late 1700s.

Railroad

A system of trains that transport goods and people across land, crucial to the North's economy.

Wage slaves

A derogatory term used by southerners to describe factory workers in the North, indicating that they were bound to low wages.

King Cotton

A phrase that denotes the economic dominance of cotton in the Southern economy.

Immigrant

A person who moves from one country to another, often in search of better opportunities.