The long-standing struggle between the North and South in America was deeply rooted in economic differences, primarily centered around agriculture versus industrialization. The Southern economy relied heavily on plantation agriculture dependent on enslaved labor to produce cash crops like cotton and tobacco, while the Northern economy was more diversified and industrialized, focusing on manufacturing and commerce. This economic dichotomy led to contrasting interests in policies such as tariffs, infrastructure investment, and, most importantly, the institution of slavery. Over time, these differences exacerbated regional tensions, ultimately contributing to the outbreak of the Civil War in 1861.