The War Between the States, Essay Example

American Civil War or the War Between the States was one of the greatest events in the United States history of XIX century. The war was an inescapable consequence of the growing conflict between two society systems inside the country. The hart of the question was the slavery – the center of economic and political interest of southern planters.

Despite the stable inflow of immigrants and economic development, the United States of America were a federative country. Each state lived its own political and economical life resulting in slow integration processes. The South spread with slavery and industrial North separated into two economic regions.

Southern planters used archaic form of exploitation, had unlimited power over the slaves and lived the life of noble landlords, remaining capitalistic entrepreneurs in other respects. The land was in the private property and planters invested in it. Everything produced by the slave was assumed by the slavers as a surplus product.

While the North concentrated industrial enterprises such as machinery, metal working and light industry, the South remained agricultural. Immigrants were the main labor force working on northern plants and fabrics; the demographic situation was stable and the standards of life were sufficient. The South suffered from the lack of the workers. Since most of the immigrants went to the North, the South purchased slaves from Africa.

Railroad system is another vital thing to mention. During the war, railroads were second only to waterways in providing logistical support for the armies. They were also vital to the economies of the divided nation (Koenig, 1996). By the 1861, the railroad system in the North excelled the southern one. The North had 70% of railroads in its possession.

War also requires substantial financial resources. Northern banks had a lion part of deposits in their disposal. The South, aimed to secession had to create its own money.

Thus, the difference in economy of the North and the South and weakness of the latter definitely had its impact on the result of the Civil War.

References

Koenig, A. (1996). Railroad’s Critical Role in the Civil War. Retrieved April 5, 2010 from http://www.historynet.com/railroads-critical-role-in-the-civil-war.htm

Lee, G. (2002). The Myth of the Confederacy. Retrieved April 5, 2010 from http://www.civilwarhome.com/confederateessay.htm