I don't mean to have this go the wrong way, but they had slaves for cheap/free labor for one.
the republicans
defensive
the will to fight
The only advantage that the South had, at first, was military leadership
The Confederates (South)
The Confederates (South)
Carpetbaggers.
Home-ground advantage - along with the stronger war-mission that went with it, driving out the invader.
bbendp
The single most consistent advantage for the South during the US Civil War was that they only needed a successful defensive war to win independence.
In the US Civil War, the North had the advantage in population and industry. The South had the advantage of better officers, and that they were defending their homes.
A truly emotive war-mission - to defend the homeland against the invader.