Final answer:
A key economic difference between the Northern and Southern United States before the Civil War was that the North had a more diversified and industrialized economy, while the South relied heavily on a plantation-based economy. The North had a larger slave population.
Step-by-step explanation:
A key economic difference between the Northern and Southern United States before the Civil War was that the North had a more diversified and industrialized economy, while the South relied heavily on a plantation-based economy. The North was characterized by industries such as manufacturing, shipping, and trade, whereas the South mainly relied on agriculture, particularly the cultivation of cash crops like cotton on large plantations.
The North's industrialization allowed for the growth of cities, the development of factories, and the expansion of transportation systems like railroads and canals. On the other hand, the South invested heavily in the plantation system and had a larger slave population that worked on these plantations. Although the South had some railroads and canals, the North had a more extensive and efficient transportation network.
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