Final answer:
The development of industry in the North was influenced by a larger population, advanced manufacturing, a comprehensive rail system, and innovations like the steamboat and telegraph, which supported a thriving manufacturing belt.
Step-by-step explanation:
The factors that contributed to the development of industry in the North include a large population, a vast railroad network, innovation, and plentiful resources. The North's population was roughly 22 million compared to the South's 9 million, providing ample manpower with 1.3 million people employed in factories. This population bolstered the industrial capacity of the region, with northern factories producing nine times as many industrial goods as their Southern counterparts.
Furthermore, a superior railroad system, efficient in both the amount of track and operation, greatly enhanced the North's logistical capabilities. The Industrial Revolution brought major manufacturing advances to the region, starting with textiles in New England, followed by steel production in Pennsylvania and Indiana, and culminating with the automobile industry in Michigan. The availability of power sources like coal, and innovations such as the steamboat, telegraph, and sewing machine, propelled the northern states into a dominant manufacturing belt before the Civil War.