The Worlds of North and South

This flashcard set contains key vocabulary terms and definitions related to the differences between the North and South in the 19th century, focusing on geography, economy, and societal structures.

Eli Whitney

Inventor of the cotton gin, which revolutionized the cotton industry in the South.

deforestation

The clearing away of forests, which was accelerated by agricultural expansion in the North.

agrarian

A person who favors an agricultural way of life and government policies that support agricultural interests.

plantation

A large area of privately owned land where crops were grown through the labor of workers, usually slaves.

cotton gin

A hand-operated machine that cleans seeds and other unwanted material from cotton.

Industrial Revolution

The dramatic change in economies brought about by the use of machines to do work formerly done by hand.

industrialist

A person whose wealth comes from the ownership of industrial businesses and who favors government policies that support industry.

King Cotton

The expression used to describe the dominance of cotton production in the Southern economy.

internal improvements

Infrastructure projects, such as roads and canals, intended to support economic growth.

migration

The movement of people from one place to another, often seen in the context of 19th-century northward migration from rural areas to cities.

cotton boom

The economic expansion in the South due to the increased production of cotton, particularly after the introduction of the cotton gin.

Lowell girls

Young women who worked in textile mills in Lowell, Massachusetts, often under harsh conditions.

immigrant

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

free blacks

African Americans who were not enslaved and typically faced discrimination and restrictions in the South.

wage slaves

A derogatory term used by southerners to describe northern factory workers who relied on their wages for survival.

cash crops

Crops that are grown for sale rather than for personal consumption; prominent examples include cotton, tobacco, and rice.