What side was best prepared for an American Civil War?

Answer 1

It can be said the neither the Union nor the Confederacy was prepared for a long four year war. With that said however, The Union did have more of a preparation than the Confederacy. here are some example:

1. The North at least had an army, even if the 16,000 troops were not stationed near the opening battles;

2. The South had state militias but no standing army;

3. The Union's navy was small, however the South had no navy at all; and

4. The Union had a well established government, while the South had to create one from scratch.

Answer 2

The South had this advantage. Most of the fighting of the Civil War happened in the South, so southern soldiers had the advantage of fighting on familiar territory.