In the early and mid-1800s, much of the North's economy depended on unskilled labour which was supplied by immigrants from other countries. These immigrants came mainly from England, Scotland and Germany. Most of these immigrants worked in factories and cotton mills. The North imported the cotton grown in the South and spun it into fabric etc. This resulted in the North's economy dominating the South's economy. The South's economy was dominated by the growth of cotton and tobacco. The slave trade flourished in the South as the plantation owners needed laborers to work in the plantations