North and South

Definition

The North and South refer to the two main regions of the United States during the 19th century. The North, also known as the Union, consisted of states that were primarily industrialized and supported abolitionism. The South, also known as the Confederacy, consisted of states that heavily relied on agriculture with a labor system based on slavery.

Related terms

Slavery: Slavery was an institution in which individuals were treated as property and forced to work without pay. It played a significant role in shaping sectionalism between the North and South.

Abolitionism: Abolitionism refers to movements or beliefs advocating for an end to slavery. It was one of the key factors that intensified tensions between the North and South.

Plantation System: The plantation system refers to large-scale agricultural enterprises in which crops such as cotton, tobacco, or rice were cultivated mainly using slave labor. It characterized Southern society during this period.