By the time of the Antebellum Period, the North and the South had developed extremely different cultures, somewhat due to their geography. Their geographies were so different, that they were the start of the differences. In the South, the soil was rich and easy to farm on, and the climate was much more suited to farming and better for plants, as well as a long growing season. In the North, it was much colder, and the soil was rocky and unsuited for many plants in many places, along with a shorter growing season. Both regions had plenty of farmers, but the South had much more success, with the large plantations, but primarily with the small, independent farms. Eventually, the South's economy revolved around farming while the North's economy started evolving to be more technologically advanced. While the North started to industrialize, the South relied on agriculture. These plantations were used to produce cash crops - crops specifically grown to sell on the market. Soon, slavery began to be used everywhere. Plantations used slaves harshly, and the owners treated them horribly. Slavery was less popular in the North, and eventually abolition came into play. Abolition was the movement to end slavery. While Northerners were adamant about ending slavery, the Southerners relied on slavery for their economy. Northerners started protesting, and making big conferences about how wrong, morally, slavery was. Southerners began making slander propaganda against Northerners, and created the false, "happy slave" image, saying that slaves were perfectly content with their place in the world. These tactics added to the rift between the two cultures, making it a huge, gaping hole. Out of abolition came the movement for women's rights, which, again, was heavy in the North, and light in the South.
Overall, the two cultures developed into two completely different entities - the South, a successful, wealthy, fiscally powerful, slave-using production line, the North an industrialized, economic powerhouse with high moral standards. Through these different developments, the nation split into these two different sections.
Overall, the two cultures developed into two completely different entities - the South, a successful, wealthy, fiscally powerful, slave-using production line, the North an industrialized, economic powerhouse with high moral standards. Through these different developments, the nation split into these two different sections.