Introduction
Geography was an integral factor in the division of the United States before the Civil War. From the 1790s to 1861, the country’s diverse climates and geographical features influenced the economic practices, settlement arrangements, and social structures, which triggered regional differences and tensions. These differences split the nation into two parts: North and South. This essay aims to analyze three critical aspects of the role of geography in the United States division. In this case, geography created contrasting economies in the North and South, which fueled their differences.
Additionally, the geographic expansion of the country and slavery triggered regional differences between the North and South. Similarly, geographical variations caused cultural differences, shaping regional identities, which created conflicts between the North and South. Geography was a dividing force during the pre-Civil War due to its influence on the opposing North and South economies, slavery expansion, and culture.
Discussion
Geography contributed to the divergent economies of the North and South, which later became a primary source of the conflict. In the North, more emphasis was placed on industry and manufacturing. This facilitated the rise of industries and the growth of cities, trade, and infrastructure such as railroads, ports, and canals. Due to the rapid industrial growth, a more extensive section of the North was urban areas. On the other hand, the South’s vast amounts of fertile land and warm climatic conditions made it suitable for growing cash crops such as tobacco and cotton.
Due to the profitability of agriculture, many Southerners did not prioritize industrial development leading to a lack of infrastructures such as roads and railroads. The industrialized nature of the North fostered conflicting ideologies and interests compared to the rural South. For instance, while the North advocated for high tariffs to shield its economy from foreign competitors, the South opposed them because they would result in retaliatory tariffs from other nations, reducing the demand for their agricultural exports. Therefore, the economic differences caused by geography fueled divergent interests between the North and South, resulting in the division.
The geographic expansion of the United States created tensions due to the issue of slavery. The North preferred free labor and considered slave labor unacceptable. Alternatively, the Southerners heavily relied on enslaved labor due to their vast lands. Therefore, as the nation continued expanding westward, the debate on whether the new regions would object to or allow slavery became a concern.
In this case, the addition of vast new lands through the Louisiana Purchase, the annexation of Oregon Territory and Texas, and the Mexican-American War created debates on expanding slavery into the areas. The accessibility of extensive fertile lands favorable for agriculture in the West, specifically Kansas and Texas, motivated the Southerners to expand slavery in these territories.
On the contrary, the Northern states considered slavery expansion a threat to their social and economic systems. This deepening conflict between the North and South on slavery expansion was demonstrated during Missouri’s admission to the Union. This led to a compromise where Missouri became a slave state while Maine was declared a free state. Therefore, geography influenced divergent views on slavery extension, increasing the sectional divisions that later triggered the Civil War.
Geographical variations between the North and South created cultural differences, fueling regional tensions. Due to the rapid industrialization in the North, most individuals were more educated and had decent careers. In addition, the religion in the North condemned slavery and regarded it as evil and hence collaborated with other abolitionists to eradicate the vice.
On the other hand, in the South, the cultural ties were mainly to farming, and education was not a priority because children were expected to help their families on the farm. Regarding religion, it was used to support the idea of slavery and expand this ideology. Thus, geography shaped the regions’ beliefs, which created divisions among them.
For instance, the Northern states believed that slavery repressed salaries and took land that poor people could utilize to become economically independent. Nevertheless, the Southerners perceived that eradicating slavery would result in insurrections and War between races. Hence, geography created diverse social, economic, political, and religious beliefs, which elicited conflicting ideologies between the North and the South, resulting in a rift.
Conclusion
In conclusion, geography fueled the sectional crisis between the Northern and Southern states before the outbreak of the Civil War. Geographical elements influenced settlements, social structures, and economic activities, thus shaping people’s lives in the North and South differently, leading to opposing values and priorities. In this case, the different economies of the two regions, shaped by varying climatic conditions and topography, created conflicting interests, resulting in sharp divisions.
In addition, the geographic extension of the nation westward triggered growing tensions between the North and the South regarding slave expansion due to divergent ideologies. Similarly, geography influenced social structures and political and religious beliefs, causing a sharp rift between the two regions. Therefore, geographical factors fueled the intensifying hostilities that ultimately triggered the Civil War.
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