Compare And Contrast The North And South Before The Civil War

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North and South were heavily dependent on each other during the years before the Civil War. The South produced materials (especially tobacco and cotton) which were America 's chief export goods. The southern states exported around 80% of the goods that brought cash into the American economy. However, there was a price for all that wealth. The southern states did not develop a strong manufacturing economy. Most manufactured goods were made in the northern states or in Britain or France. The southern states imported tools, supplies, implements, shoes, clothing. A more controversial portion of the picture is the money. Most southern plantations were heavily in debt. Despite exporting huge quantities of cash crops, plantations were not all that