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The Civil War was a pivotal point in American history. It decided whether the Union (North) and Confederacy (South) split or stated together. Many people may think that it was the inspiration of justice to free slaves that propelled the north to victory, but most do not understand the economic advantages of the North that truly won them the war. The Northern manufacturing output pushed them ahead of the South, making it an uphill battle for the Confederacy.
The overall manufacturing output was controlled by the North. According to Benjamin Arrington of the National Park Service, an agency that protects U.S. National parks and historical monuments, 90 percent of the manufacturing came from Northern states. These were goods such as food, firearms, and wool textiles for clothing. This means that at the start of the Civil War in 1861 the North was able to clothe, feed, and arm more men than the South. The manufacturing in the North also attracted a vast amount of European immigrants which gave the north 3.5 million men of fighting age compared to the South having 1 Million.
If the manufacturing roles were reversed we could all be hanging Confederate flags on our doors today.
Future Research: How did WWII affect the economic homefront? (Comparing consumption & rationing with production)
The overall manufacturing output was controlled by the North. According to Benjamin Arrington of the National Park Service, an agency that protects U.S. National parks and historical monuments, 90 percent of the manufacturing came from Northern states. These were goods such as food, firearms, and wool textiles for clothing. This means that at the start of the Civil War in 1861 the North was able to clothe, feed, and arm more men than the South. The manufacturing in the North also attracted a vast amount of European immigrants which gave the north 3.5 million men of fighting age compared to the South having 1 Million.
If the manufacturing roles were reversed we could all be hanging Confederate flags on our doors today.
Future Research: How did WWII affect the economic homefront? (Comparing consumption & rationing with production)
