US History. Civil War and Reconstruction

THE CIVIL WAR AND RECONSTRUCTION (1850-1877)

THE DIVISIVE POLITICS OF SLAVERY

• Over centuries, Northern and Southern sections of the United States developed distinct cultural and economic regions.
• Key differences included:
  • Geography and climate variations.
  • Religious differences.
• Increased demand for cotton led to more enslaved people working on Southern plantations.

THE SOUTH BEFORE THE WAR

• Rural plantation economy reliant on slave labor.
• The term “Peculiar Institution” reflects the South's fear that losing slavery equated to a loss of culture.
  • The family structure worked on cotton plantations highlighted this dependency.

THE NORTH BEFORE THE WAR

• The North had a more diverse economy; represented a center of manufacturing.
• There was open opposition to slavery in both the South and new territories.
• Urbanization in the North contributed to its economic diversity.
• Region Specifics:
  • Northeast: Manufacturing hub with factories.
  • Northwest: