Manufacturing TO THE MAX!!
"Determine that the thing can and shall be done, and then we shall find the way." - Abraham Lincoln
INTRODUCTION
Industrialization of the northern states had a huge impact on urbanization and immigration. Manufacturing transformed the North from an agrarian-based society into one that was mechanized. The Union's manufacturing capability was the defining factor in the war; with a large portion of Union land consisting of factories, the Union was able to use its manufacturing to gain access to supplies such as guns, cotton, and iron, which helped them defeat the South.
FACTORIES
The factory system in the North was far superior to that in the South. The North had almost five times as many factories as the South, which was extremely beneficial. On the other hand, the South had a mainly plantation-based economy, so there was very little manufacturing there. The Union's ability to produce more necessary goods such as guns, food, and clothing in its factories gave it a key advantage over the South, which was reliant on imports from other countries.
IRON
From 1863-1864 there was an increase in iron production in the Northern states. As the war went on, iron costs decreased due to the discovery of iron deposits in Lake Superior. The iron served to create railroads, which were a key part of Northern infrastructure. Iron production further benefited the Northern states by reducing the need for protective tariffs (taxes on imported goods).
WEAPONS
Northern iron production also increased the development of new weapons and machinery. The Northern weapons were more accurate due to the role of the factory system in the North and standardization of parts. The Parrot Gun pictured to the right was an artillery weapon developed by the Union. It was a step towards the more powerful weapons of today.
RAILROADS
Northern railroads were instrumental in the transportation of troops, weaponry, and food. In fact, the Union states had almost 75% of the railroads in the United States. Railroads also helped to cement the Northern hold on captured areas in the Confederacy. Union supply lines, combined with a larger population, gave the soldiers more endurance throughout the war than their Southern counterparts.
COTTON
Cotton production in the Union was comparable to that of the Confederacy due to inventions such as the mechanical reaper and textile mills. Farming was not obsolete in the Union, but manufacturing had not yet been fully implemented in the South. This allowed the Union to both harvest cotton and produce clothing without being dependent on the Confederacy or other countries.
Overall...
In your opinion...
Sources
Number of Factories. Digital image. The Civil War for Kids. N.p., 19 Oct. 1999. Web. 06 Dec. 2013. <http://www2.lhric.org/pocantico/civilwar/charts6.jpg>.
Civil War Industry and Manufacturing. 2010. Photograph. New Georgia Encyclopedia, Athens. Web. 03 Dec 2013. <http://www.georgiaencyclopedia.org/sites/default/files/styles/article-top/public/m-7943.jpg?itok=OizZbA3q>.
Parrott Rifle. 2013. Photograph. WikipediaWeb. 5 Dec 2013. <http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/64/A_200-pound_Parrott_rifle_in_Fort_Gregg_on_Morris_Island,_South_Carolina,_1865_-_NARA_-_533271.jpg>.
Russell, Andrew. Civil War - Railroads. 1996. Photograph. TreasureNetWeb. 03 Dec 2013. <http://www.treasurenet.com/images/civilwar/CIVIL079.JPG>.
The history of the textile industry continued - The Nineteenth Century. 2013. Photograph. exploreB2BWeb. 06 Dec 2013. <https://exploreb2b.com/system/images/11384/medium/Cotton_Quilts.jpg>.
North and South: Different Cultures, Same Country. N.d. Photograph. CIVIL WAR TRUSTWeb. 6 Dec 2013. <http://www.civilwar.org/education/history/civil-war-overview/culture-and-economics.png>.
Number of Factories. Digital image. The Civil War for Kids. N.p., 19 Oct. 1999. Web. 06 Dec. 2013. <http://www2.lhric.org/pocantico/civilwar/charts6.jpg>.
Civil War Industry and Manufacturing. 2010. Photograph. New Georgia Encyclopedia, Athens. Web. 03 Dec 2013. <http://www.georgiaencyclopedia.org/sites/default/files/styles/article-top/public/m-7943.jpg?itok=OizZbA3q>.
Parrott Rifle. 2013. Photograph. WikipediaWeb. 5 Dec 2013. <http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/64/A_200-pound_Parrott_rifle_in_Fort_Gregg_on_Morris_Island,_South_Carolina,_1865_-_NARA_-_533271.jpg>.
Russell, Andrew. Civil War - Railroads. 1996. Photograph. TreasureNetWeb. 03 Dec 2013. <http://www.treasurenet.com/images/civilwar/CIVIL079.JPG>.
The history of the textile industry continued - The Nineteenth Century. 2013. Photograph. exploreB2BWeb. 06 Dec 2013. <https://exploreb2b.com/system/images/11384/medium/Cotton_Quilts.jpg>.
North and South: Different Cultures, Same Country. N.d. Photograph. CIVIL WAR TRUSTWeb. 6 Dec 2013. <http://www.civilwar.org/education/history/civil-war-overview/culture-and-economics.png>.