The North and South of the United States experienced significant differences between 1820-1860, ultimately leading to the Civil War. This period saw contrasts in economic systems, social structures, and cultural values that deepened the divide between the regions. Key events like the Mexican-American War, the Compromise of 1850, and the Kansas-Nebraska Act further exacerbated tensions over the expansion of slavery.
• The North focused on industry, shipping, and urban development, while the South relied on agriculture and plantation slavery.
• Abolitionists fought to end slavery, with figures like Harriet Tubman and Frederick Douglass playing crucial roles.
• The Mexican-American War (1846-1848) led to territorial gains that intensified the slavery debate.
• The Compromise of 1850 attempted to balance slave and free states but included the controversial Fugitive Slave Act.
• Tensions culminated in the election of 1860 and the outbreak of the Civil War.