What were the Northern advantages and disadvantages going into the US Civil War?

Answer 1

The North had considerable advantages over the South in the US Civil War. They far outnumbered its disadvantages.Northern advantages included:

* An already created Federal government, the South had to create one from scratch;

* A productive industrial base free from any major military dangers from Reel armies. This would allow the North to keep its armies supplied. The South had little if any industry to speak of;

* A standing navy and the shipyards available to build a bigger and better navy. The South had to patch together a navy as it had none;

* The North had a large population from which to recruit solders. The South had a small population; and

* The North was a credit worthy standing government and had the ability to raise funds for the war. The South had to scratch for funds.

The large Northern disadvantage was that it was not essential to win the war. The Union could well exist without the South. This fact meant that the North had to crush the Southern rebellion in a timely fashion or citizens would grow tired of losing their men in hopeless battles that even if won, would not gain a victory.

President Lincoln came into office to preside over a nation, the Union, whose population had mixed feelings about the war's viability and was unsure about slavery, only that it did not exist in the North. Many Northerners were relieved to be rid of their Southern sisters.