How Did The Civil War Affect The Economy

986 Words4 Pages

In 1861, after years of violent tensions between the Northern and Southern United States over the issues that many Southern states wanted more authority over the federal government, so they could abolish federal laws they did not agree with them, like the right to keep slaves and they believe if slavery were to be abolish it could collapse the United States economy. Slave owners wanted to take slavery into the new territories in the west, but the North wanted to keep them open to white labor alone. When Abraham Lincoln was voted into presidency, the south knew that they have lost all influence and decide to separate from the Union which lead to the civil war. The civil war could have not been settled in a diplomatic as that many southern slave …show more content…

Slavery was detrimental to the county economy because slaves lacked the rights to earn wages, which lead a large number of people not buy consumer goods to boost the economy. A slave economy also discouraged the growth of the economy because many slave owners saw that slavery was a cheaper resource then paying a servitude to work on the fields. The south dominant over the north with their agriculture of cotton which lead the main producer of cotton for France and Britain. This firmed up the desire for the south to own more slaves and grow their cotton plantation into the west. The north wanted to end slavery because it did not provide economy growth for the nation and it took away many jobs from the white working class. The north did not want the south to expand to the west territories because slave owner will have taken large amount of land from the work white class. In 1862 the government passed the Homestead Act wish allowed non-slave owners to purchase land in the west with low payments, but slave owners were not allowed to purchase the. The North erected a navel blockade on the south limiting the amount of cotton that could passed through for export. This anger the south and the cause of the Civil War, south did not agree with the north as they felt the government were trying to take away their right to own slaves and stop the growth of …show more content…

South saw the significance of slavery as it provides economic benefits and opportunities to grow their business. As banning slavery, it could damage the southern economy, as a result slave owner believe that secede from the union could increase their profits, boost their economy, and allow them to pass laws that will help their country. The south wanted the United States to protect their rights of owning slaves because Southerners have invested a lot of money into slavery and by banning slavery will cause slave owners lose money. The North and South had completely different social structure, economy, political values and customs. The northern states were industrialization, producing large amount raw goods and machines, while southern states were involved in the plantations which used slavery labor and farming to produce their nation goods. Those difference between the north and south led the southerners secede from the union as both side believe their way of life was better than the other

More about How Did The Civil War Affect The Economy

Open Document