Why the North won the American Civil War - Essay Example

To be objective, it is very important to take into account not only military events, but the "roots of success" resulted in victory of the North. The analysis of the first set of reasons includes political, economic, social and industrial sphere and conditions which had a great influence on both parties1. 1. Manpower and resources. The strength of the North was that it remained the core of the nation. In contrast, the Southern states, separated form the Union, were perceived as the mutinous party.

The conservative North, embodied social and political customs and tradition, represented a strong power and reliability for many American citizens. This psychological perception of the differences between the South and North strengthened the positions of the North as the custodian of peace and constancy. The social priorities were supported by economic development of the North which always plays a major role considered as the main indicator of future success or failure of a country. The main advantage of the North, which undoubtedly supported its victory, was the fact that the North had occupied a stronger position in the economic and political spheres of life.

The North had started to dominate after the Constitution was adopted by all of the States in 1789, uniting the States into one nation. In a century, the North was considered as the political center of the nation and nobody doubted its superiority over the Southern part. . Of cause, there were some differences between the States which had been worked out through compromises, but it could not undermine the authority of the North. The main advantage of the North was its developing industry, which supported the rapid economic growth of this region, and manufacturing of ammunition so important for the North troops during the war.

In contrast to agrarian South the level of the North economic development was higher and more stable. And when during the war time the south needed financing, "almost 60 per cent was derived from the issue of paper money, about 30 per cent from the sale of bonds, and less than 5 per cent from taxation (the remaining 5 percent from miscellaneous sources.) In contrast, the income of North in "13 per cent was raised by paper money, 62 per cent by bonds, and 21 per centby taxes (and 4 per cent by other means)"2 This financial data depicts the main advantage of the North, relied much more upon taxation and borrowing and less upon government notes as South did.

It is a well known fact that industry is not influenced greatly by external environmental changes as the agriculture (droughts, bad harvest), and in this very case the positions of North were stronger, and resulted in accumulation of huge resources which South was not able to obtain. As industry in the North expanded it looked towards southern markets, rich with cash from the lucrative agricultural business, to buy the North's manufactured goods. However, it was often cheaper for the South to purchase the goods abroad.

2 1Richard N. Current, The History of Wisconsin Volume II. The Civil War Era, 1848- 1873. (Madison: The State Historical Society of Wisconsin, 1976), 3.2Gabor S. Boritt, ed. Why the Civil War Came