How Did The Cotton Economy Affect The Economy

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In the North the economy was based on the textile industry. Textile mills took cotton thread and made it into cloth with machines. These factories were very dangerous and mostly women and young children worked in them. Starting in the mid-1700s, people used whale oil for fuel to make more light which let people get more work done, since they could work in the dark. Transportation also impacted the economy. When the road systems improved it caused trading to increase. The Erie Canal also allowed more steamboats to travel faster and have goods get places faster, which increased trade. Unlike the North, the Southern economy was based off of the cotton industry. Cotton was the biggest cash crop in the South. Cotton was planted and picked by slaves.