Final answer:
Despite the North's numerical and industrial edge, the Confederate Army posed a serious challenge due to their strategy of defensive warfare, skilled leadership, and the North's logistical hurdles in conquering a vast territory.
Step-by-step explanation:
Despite the North's advantages in population and industrial capacity during the Civil War, they faced challenges against the Confederate Army due to several factors. Firstly, the South, aiming to defend its territory, needed less manpower and could fight a defensive war, which is generally easier to manage. They also had skilled military leaders, were experienced with firearms and horsemanship, and could benefit from fighting on familiar terrain.
Secondly, the North had to conquer and pacify vast territories, maintain long supply lines and contend with a hostile civilian population, making it difficult to leverage their superior resources effectively. Furthermore, as the South's resolve strengthened, they also leveraged their existing resources, despite suffering from inflation and shortages due to the Union blockade. Thus, even with a smaller population and less industrial might, the Confederacy's strategic advantages and the nature of their tactics made them a formidable opponent in the war.