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How were the economies of the north and the south affected by the war?

There was great wealth in the South, but it was primarily tied up in the slave economy. In 1860, the economic value of slaves in the United States exceeded the invested value of all of the nation's railroads, factories, and banks combined. On the eve of the Civil War, cotton prices were at an all-time high.


Describe the economic systems of the north and south with regard to both agriculture and manufacturing?

While factories were built all over the North and South, the vast majority of industrial manufacturing was taking place in the North. The South had almost 25% of the country's free population, but only 10% of the country's capital in 1860. The North had five times the number of factories as the South.


How much did the Northern economy grow between 1860 and 1870?

With most of the US Civil War battles taking place in the South, Northern industry boomed during the war. Government contracts to businesses for war supplies helped this growth. After the war, as the North expanded westward, the South remained stagnant. Between 1860 and 1870, wealth in North grew by 50%. By comparison, the economic trends in the South went in reverse. Southern wealth declined by 60%. It would take the South 60 years to reach the level of wealth it had in 1860.


What economic comparisons can be made between the North and South in the years of 1860 to 1870?

This ten year period was one of marked economic contrasts. As an example, in this ten year period the economic wealth of the South declined approximately 60% while in the same time period the North's wealth increased by 50%.


What did the US Civil War do to the economy of the South?

The Civil War ruined the Southern economy because most of the battles were fought in Southern states. Farmlands had been destroyed and the few factories they had were either badly damaged or also in ruins due to the battles. The Southern economy of 1860 has been measured by historians and economists. Using 1860 as a base, it was not until 1900 that the Southern economy had even reached 75% of its 1860 output. Another reason for the lack of a rebound in the Southern economy was the loss of Southern soldiers. Both sides in the war lost about the same amount of soldiers, however, the losses in the South had a greater impact because the overall Southern population, minus the slave population, was about nine million. The North had about 23 million. With that said, a large part of the available working men in the post war period was simply not there.