8.10.2

Trace the boundaries constitution the North and the South, the geographical differences between the two regions, and the difference between agrarians and industrialists.
             Southern region in America, during the Civil War for unity, ended above Texas, Arkansas, Tennessee, and Virginia.  Those states and states below them were in the Southern region; all states above were of the Northern region. The states in the southern region were the states that had threatened the country’s unity by seceding. The country was split into two, the Northern states, or the Union, and the Southern states, or the Confederacy. The separating line between the two regions is shown on the map on the next page.
             Rivers, canals, oceans, and railroads helped the states receive supplies, which they continuously needed, for the war. The Southern region had an advantage with their long coastline. The coastline stretched for miles, this helped them to trade with other countries for all of the supplies needed for the war even when the Northerners tried to set up a blockade. The coastline was too long for the Northern ships to block the entire coast, though it did lower the trade. The Southern states also had many farmlands. These helped to feed the soldiers at war. There were three states, Missouri, Kentucky, and Maryland that were not sure to either stay with the Union or go and join the Confederacy. Two other states, Tennessee and Kentucky were also un sure, but later on about the time the war had actually started, they decided to join the confederacy and go through secession. The other states on the other hand, were with the Union, but could change their minds at anytime for some people supported the Union and some the Confederacy. Because they were with the Union, the Union was able have control of rivers such as the Mississippi River and the Ohio River. The Union was also able to have control of the vital railroads that passed through Maryland. With these few states and rivers, the Northern states were able to have an advantage.
             Food and supplies still ran short, especially food in both the Union and the Confederacy, even with the Union having machines and the Confederacy having farms. The Northern states and the Southern states had different ways of getting their food and supplies. The Northern states were more industrialists while the Southern states were more agrarians. Agrarians are people who prefer farming. This was because their crops were doing well, and it was a good source to trade with others. One crop that they grew was cotton. It became especially popular when the invention of the cotton gin came about and they were able to easily remove the cottonseeds from the plant. They farmed many different plants, but did not produce many other goods. The Southern states did not have many new factories and mostly lived off of the cotton. During the war, the southerners were able to fight while their slaves kept the crops alive. They did not build many railroads and those that they did build were short and did not connect the entire region together. If they had, then they would have been better off in the war. On the other hand, the Northerners did build many railroads. The Northerners were industrialists, they believed more in advancing with machines, industries, and factories. Most workers in the factories had a hard time with long work hours with little pay. The up sides were that they were able to make many supplies such as guns and clothing. They produced the goods, but farmed little of it.


More Information:

   1.    http://www.mcps.k12.md.us/curriculum/socialstd/MH/Civil_War3.html
          This link shows maps of the different regions in the civil war. It also talks about events during the war.

   2.    http://spider.georgetowncollege.edu/htallant/border/bs11/copeland.htm
          This link talks about the secession of Tennessee and Kentucky.


Recommended Books:

   1.    The American Journey: Building a Nation
          by Joyce Appleby, Alan Brinkley, James McPherson, and National Geographic Society

   2.    Life & Labor in the Old South
          by Urich B. Phillips

   3.    The Slave Community: Plantation Life in the Antebellum South
          by J. W. Blassingame