Why the North Won the Civil War essays

Why the North Won the Civil War essays Just judging from the tale of the tape immediately before the Second American Revolution broke out, it is amazing that the South managed to battle so valiantly for so long, dragging out the fight for several years, before finally being forced to give in to the North. The North possessed a tremendous numerical superiority, industrial advantages that allowed them to gain a technological advantage, and a complex system of railways and canals that allowed for easy transportation of troops and equipment. It was these logistical advantages that gave them the edge over the South to win the war, and they proved ultimately more valuable than brilliant officers, skilled soldiers, and popular support; all of which the South had in its corner. Cultural differences between the North and South dating back to the colonial era certainly were a factor contributing to the outbreak of war, but they indirectly contributed to its outcome as well. The South always had a strong desire to preserve its agricultural roots, rather than rapidly moving towards manufacturing, and industry, as the North did. During the years preceding the war, the North experienced a sudden influx of European immigrants, who quickly found low-paying jobs in factories. These immigrants avoided the South, because it would be almost impossible to find employment, due to its lack of industry, and availability of slaves. The South depended much more heavily on the North than vice versa, and in essence, it crippled itself by severing ties with the rest of the Union. This new Confederacy was ill equipped to be an independent nation; they were merely a collection of agricultural states. Just looking at the numbers, the North beat out the South in nearly every category. The population of the North in 1860 was approximately twenty-two million, compared to a population of only nine million in the seceding states. This factor alone allowed generals such as Ulysses S. Grant, o...