Based on the readings for Weeks 2 and 3, answer the
following question: to what extent were the North and South different societies?
Consider perceptions at the time, and
the views of historians since.
There were significant differences between the two societies of the North and South prior to the Civil War. George Templeton Strong saw two different social systems, and one of the most striking differences would be the economies. The South was still primarily an agricultural society. The North, however, had transformed into an industrialised society with strong manufacturing sector by 1850. Olmsted saw the North as hungry for development and progress, and criticised the South as they had little pleasure in labour and worked merely for the results.
The North and South differed significantly in their views regarding labour, slavery and religion, and both societies saw themselves as superior to the other. Olmsted reveals that Northerners disliked the fact that Southerners did not value labour and the means to an end, but rather just the result. They also believed their continual use of slave labour was harmful to the economy, as discussed by Child, and that they lacked sophistication. The idea of self-salvation in the North conflicted with the pre-determinist values of the South, and Southerners viewed the Northerners as meddling and violent. They also saw themselves as more civilised than the North as they were not riddled by the issues that arose from the market revolution, as described by Fitzhugh. These conflicting values resulted in the North and South being two different societies.
Antebellum America is and was widely understood to function as two separate societies, both North and South, with perceived differences including those both economic and cultural. Writing in this period, Northerner Lydia Maria Child describes the economic inconsistencies that slavery creates, contending that the investment of capital required by the slave system to both purchase and provide for each slave, far outweighs the costs associated with the employment of casual labour. Similarly, Hinton Rowan Helper, writing in 1857, points to the growth in industry and infrastructure seen in the North and contrasts it with the economic stagnation, with the exception of the rising value of slaves, in the South. In defence of perceived Southern “Cultural Backwardness” James Henry Hammond claims cultural superiority as a result of increased leisure time being used for education and self development. Interestingly, Frederick Law Olmstead argues the exact opposite, in the belief that the active lifestyle pursued by Northerners contributes to a more agile and inventive mind. However, while it is easy to distinguish between the two societies at what might be considered opposing poles, it is likely that among the more moderate groups in each society there may have been more cultural and ideological consistency.
By 1861 the South and the North of the United States had come to view themselves in opposition to one another. Central to this schism was the institution of slavery. While James Henry Hammond defined the intellectual and cultural superiority of an honorable South, with leisure time to spare, Lydia Maria Child described the economic shortsightedness of slavery, compared with that of free independent laborers. Similarly, George Fitzburgh evoked ancient Rome when painting a picture of Southern society, while Frederick Law Olmsted described a North that looked to the future in progress through free labor. Perhaps the most important observation to be made, aside from how true the differences were between slave society South and progressive North, is that the two saw themselves as different, and in opposition to, one another.
Despite the shared history, language and ethnicity amongst the Southern and Northern Americans, there were fundamental differences between these two societies that were reflected in the way they perceived the other. Economically, the South’s reliance on an agricultural-based economy led some such as George Fitzhugh to view this as the peaceful and content way of living. This is a stark contrast to the North, which transformed from an agricultural society into a market-based, manufacturing society during the 1850s, which led some Northerners such as Olmsted to view Northern society as superior to their Southern counterparts, especially in terms of material and economic developments.
While both societies shared a strong emphasis on religion, their interpretations and uses of religion were starkly different, with the South using it to justify their God-given rights as slave-owners, whereas the Second Awakening led Northerners such as Finney to view slavery as a moral evil obstructing their potential to be admitted into Heaven. On these two factors alone, it is clear the two society’s perceptions of themselves and the other reflected a large extent of differences in their societies.
The vast differences within the religious, economical and cultural spheres of life, helped to create different societies within the North and South. By the nineteenth century, the South was essentially an agricultural society. James Henry Hammond argues that Southern life created greater equality, peace and cultural dominance, despite being built through the use of slavery. This is in contrast to the North, a predominately industrial, which aided the religious ‘second great awakening’ had become increasingly opposed to slavery. Fredrick Law Olsmed highlights how the reliance on slavery had left Southerners to have ‘no pleasure in labour’ whilst Northerners enjoyed hard work rather than the outcome. It was this attitude towards hard work, which had allowed the North advance socially, reflected through public works and education whilst the South remained backwards for the time. These differences, fundamentally economically based, allowed each side to perceive themselves to be superior, culturally and economically, to the other. The perception of superiority ultimately divided the two, allowing by the nineteenth century for the North and South to become different societies.
There were considerable differences and perceived differences between the North and the South before the outbreak of the Civil War. The main structural differences were the economies; the South was primarily an agricultural society while the North was becoming more industrialised. Many Northerner's, such as Lydia Marie Child, believed slavery was harmful to the economy and would cause the South to regress. Religion could also be argued as a key difference between the North and the South. During the Second Great Awakening, religion divided the two sides further as each sought to use the bible to justify their actions.
The perceived differences had to do with the social systems and values held by the North/South. George Templeton Strong believed there were two separate social systems in the North/South and many in the public agreed with this view. These differences are significant enough to create an argument that the North and the South were two different societies.
Levine describes antebellum America as two societies; ‘slave and free’. This comment reflects popular opinion at the time, that the North and South were two different societies. The Southern economy based 80% in agriculture lingered behind in economy and public improvements, Olmstead critiques saying improvements in the North consist of education, transport and industry, while the South one return after 20 years only seeing an increase in slave prices. This difference was not limited to the economy but also the changes in both societies in religion and changing gender roles, seen in the North by the rejection of pre-destination, and rapidly growing industrialization.
At the time North and South was consider as two societies due to the difference in economic development and difference in interpretation of religion. South had an agriculture base economic, and heavily rely on slave labor. Cotton crop had significance growth over the years, in a way did reinforce the idea of south was doing fine with slavery. On the other hand northern society had transform to industrialize society, market and industries growth became north’s primary concern, and eager to push the south into the same path. North also view free labors were more efficient than slave labors. On the religious perceptive, south saw slavery as a god given right, and north saw slavery as evil.
In antebellum America, the South remained primarily an agricultural society while the North had expanded to more industrialist ventures. According to Wyatt-Brown, so embedded was the institution of slavery as the Southern ‘way’ that it was integral to the survival of their economy. The Northern view, however, is reflected in Child’s opinion from the time that the mostly ‘free’ labour of the North actually compels men to work harder and more effectively. Though both the North and South placed a great emphasis on the importance of religion, it was their interpretations of religion that differed and further severed the links between both societies. The ‘Second Great Awakening’ most favoured in the South was a significant factor in this. Wyatt-Brown observes that each society attempted to justify their own actions using selective biblical passages, which as a result saw separate religious institutions developed in either society. The most significant differences that led present and past observers to describe the North and South as ‘different’ were economic and religious factors. George Templeton Strong viewed them as two separate social systems, and this was certainly the public view of the time.
The North and South in antebellum America had several key differences between the two societies, where the North had industrialised and progressed into the modern era, the South to remained an agricultural society, creating a division between the two economically and culturally. Slavery became the defining feature of the South, with historians labelling it as a slave society for its' reliance on slave labour, while in the North the Second Great Awakening created a popular movement of working hard for ones betterment, and demonised slavery as a sin, furthering the divide between the North and South.
Southerner's such as Fitzhugh and Hammond argued that the "stability and peace" of the South, along with its' success and superiority over the North are to be attributed to the ownership of slaves, whereas in the North, many citizens, including Lydia Maria Child and Hinton Rowan Helper, viewed slavery as harmful to both society and the economy.
The perceived differences between the North and South by their respective residents stemmed from many factors; however, looking in hindsight, it is probable that there was a more similar group of citizens from both the North and South that shared the same ideals.
The extreme political poles of the North and South suggest two radically different societies. The North, with a self-view as progressive, sophisticated, and superior to the Southerner, who according to Hinton Rowan Helper, advanced themselves only upon agricultural luck. The South too saw themselves as superior, and separate, from the North – who's abolitionist argument offended the rights for the Southerner to own a slave - the economic pillar of their economy.
Antebellum America can therefore be seen as separate in its polarisation of political opinion, however, this is not evidence enough to argue for a societal split. The consistency in social practice; such as religion, language, post-independence identity and etiquette suggest a societal unity across the broader American states.
In many ways the North and South were different societies, the South being firmly rooted in agricultural and slave owning traditions whilst the North progressed into industrialisation. Due to these differences there was a distinction between the cultures of the North and the South. The urban situation of much of the North created a modernising culture, a culture of forward progress. On the other hand the rural situation in the South created a folk culture, based on tradition and the slave society in which they lived. Also the people of the North and the South held their own beliefs about their differences. Each society believed themselves to possess intrinsic differences in personality. However despite these differences the societies of the North and the South share many common factors. The ‘objective similarity thesis’ of historian David Potter contends that the shared common attributes of law, language, political system and heritage outweigh the differences between the North and the South. As such the extent to which the societies of the North and South differ may be small in some factors and both societies may share essential commonalities, but the perceptions of the people of the time exacerbate and create differences.
Looking at sources and statistics from Antebellum America, it becomes clear that the two societies were moving in starkly opposite social, economic and cultural directions. More importantly, though, were the perceived differences that were expressed by both Northerners and Southerners at the time. Frederick Law Olmsted, a Northerner, states that Southerners “[have] much less curiosity than the Northerner, less originating genius, less inventive talent, less patient and persevering energy.” Conversely, Southerner George Fitzhugh remarks how, “High intellectual and moral attainments, refinement of head and heart, give standing to a man in the South…Money is, with few exceptions, the only thing that ennobles at the North.” This gap in how the societies viewed themselves, the other and therefore the future of their nation is arguably what separated the two more than any concrete statistic or policy. However, the core of this difference can be seen to stem always either directly or indirectly from the issue of the South as a slave society, and it was this insurmountable difference that caused that the two societies to develop in increasingly divergent directions.
Prior to the Civil War, the Southern and Northern states of America were two vastly different societies, significantly shaped by their economies and religious cultures. As the North transformed into an industrialised society and neglected slavery, its people began to associate this with a sense of forward progression, development and sophistication, a notion reflected by Northerners such as Frederick Law Olmsted. For Southerners however, it was from conservative roots that they placed slavery as the cornerstone for not only their agricultural-dependent economy but their culture as well, a culture of easy-going peace and hospitality. It is from these self-held beliefs that from both the North and South a firm belief of superiority over their counterpart can be observed. Historians such as Bruce Levine also place an importance on religion in the differences of culture between North and South. As the North began to readily adopt emerging evangelical forms of Protestantism which spoke of “free-will” and “salvation”, the South maintained a focus upon conservative, “Calvinist predestination” forms.
At the extreme ends of the societies, the North and South differed significantly both economically and culturally. In the economic sphere, the South was more agricultural, its people according to Olmsted, were not concerned with labour but only the result. Where as the North was more industrious, concerned with the means, not only the result. Religion was one of the big cultural differences between the societies. The North and South used religion to back up their opposing views, to justify or condemn slavery. These differences, economic and cultural, are significant enough to state that The North and South were indeed very different societies. Of course there would have been moderates on both sides that perhaps were more neutral, however as these differences led to a civil war, it is fair to say they were different societies.
There were significant differences between the two societies of the North and South prior to the Civil War. George Templeton Strong saw two different social systems, and one of the most striking differences would be the economies. The South was still primarily an agricultural society. The North, however, had transformed into an industrialised society with strong manufacturing sector by 1850. Olmsted saw the North as hungry for development and progress, and criticised the South as they had little pleasure in labour and worked merely for the results.
ReplyDeleteThe North and South differed significantly in their views regarding labour, slavery and religion, and both societies saw themselves as superior to the other. Olmsted reveals that Northerners disliked the fact that Southerners did not value labour and the means to an end, but rather just the result. They also believed their continual use of slave labour was harmful to the economy, as discussed by Child, and that they lacked sophistication. The idea of self-salvation in the North conflicted with the pre-determinist values of the South, and Southerners viewed the Northerners as meddling and violent. They also saw themselves as more civilised than the North as they were not riddled by the issues that arose from the market revolution, as described by Fitzhugh. These conflicting values resulted in the North and South being two different societies.
ReplyDeleteAntebellum America is and was widely understood to function as two separate societies, both North and South, with perceived differences including those both economic and cultural. Writing in this period, Northerner Lydia Maria Child describes the economic inconsistencies that slavery creates, contending that the investment of capital required by the slave system to both purchase and provide for each slave, far outweighs the costs associated with the employment of casual labour. Similarly, Hinton Rowan Helper, writing in 1857, points to the growth in industry and infrastructure seen in the North and contrasts it with the economic stagnation, with the exception of the rising value of slaves, in the South.
ReplyDeleteIn defence of perceived Southern “Cultural Backwardness” James Henry Hammond claims cultural superiority as a result of increased leisure time being used for education and self development. Interestingly, Frederick Law Olmstead argues the exact opposite, in the belief that the active lifestyle pursued by Northerners contributes to a more agile and inventive mind. However, while it is easy to distinguish between the two societies at what might be considered opposing poles, it is likely that among the more moderate groups in each society there may have been more cultural and ideological consistency.
By 1861 the South and the North of the United States had come to view themselves in opposition to one another. Central to this schism was the institution of slavery. While James Henry Hammond defined the intellectual and cultural superiority of an honorable South, with leisure time to spare, Lydia Maria Child described the economic shortsightedness of slavery, compared with that of free independent laborers. Similarly, George Fitzburgh evoked ancient Rome when painting a picture of Southern society, while Frederick Law Olmsted described a North that looked to the future in progress through free labor.
ReplyDeletePerhaps the most important observation to be made, aside from how true the differences were between slave society South and progressive North, is that the two saw themselves as different, and in opposition to, one another.
Despite the shared history, language and ethnicity amongst the Southern and Northern Americans, there were fundamental differences between these two societies that were reflected in the way they perceived the other. Economically, the South’s reliance on an agricultural-based economy led some such as George Fitzhugh to view this as the peaceful and content way of living. This is a stark contrast to the North, which transformed from an agricultural society into a market-based, manufacturing society during the 1850s, which led some Northerners such as Olmsted to view Northern society as superior to their Southern counterparts, especially in terms of material and economic developments.
ReplyDeleteWhile both societies shared a strong emphasis on religion, their interpretations and uses of religion were starkly different, with the South using it to justify their God-given rights as slave-owners, whereas the Second Awakening led Northerners such as Finney to view slavery as a moral evil obstructing their potential to be admitted into Heaven. On these two factors alone, it is clear the two society’s perceptions of themselves and the other reflected a large extent of differences in their societies.
The vast differences within the religious, economical and cultural spheres of life, helped to create different societies within the North and South. By the nineteenth century, the South was essentially an agricultural society.
ReplyDeleteJames Henry Hammond argues that Southern life created greater equality, peace and cultural dominance, despite being built through the use of slavery.
This is in contrast to the North, a predominately industrial, which aided the religious ‘second great awakening’ had become increasingly opposed to slavery.
Fredrick Law Olsmed highlights how the reliance on slavery had left Southerners to have ‘no pleasure in labour’ whilst Northerners enjoyed hard work rather than the outcome. It was this attitude towards hard work, which had allowed the North advance socially, reflected through public works and education whilst the South remained backwards for the time. These differences, fundamentally economically based, allowed each side to perceive themselves to be superior, culturally and economically, to the other.
The perception of superiority ultimately divided the two, allowing by the nineteenth century for the North and South to become different societies.
There were considerable differences and perceived differences between the North and the South before the outbreak of the Civil War. The main structural differences were the economies; the South was primarily an agricultural society while the North was becoming more industrialised. Many Northerner's, such as Lydia Marie Child, believed slavery was harmful to the economy and would cause the South to regress. Religion could also be argued as a key difference between the North and the South. During the Second Great Awakening, religion divided the two sides further as each sought to use the bible to justify their actions.
ReplyDeleteThe perceived differences had to do with the social systems and values held by the North/South. George Templeton Strong believed there were two separate social systems in the North/South and many in the public agreed with this view. These differences are significant enough to create an argument that the North and the South were two different societies.
Levine describes antebellum America as two societies; ‘slave and free’. This comment reflects popular opinion at the time, that the North and South were two different societies. The Southern economy based 80% in agriculture lingered behind in economy and public improvements, Olmstead critiques saying improvements in the North consist of education, transport and industry, while the South one return after 20 years only seeing an increase in slave prices. This difference was not limited to the economy but also the changes in both societies in religion and changing gender roles, seen in the North by the rejection of pre-destination, and rapidly growing industrialization.
ReplyDeleteAt the time North and South was consider as two societies due to the difference in economic development and difference in interpretation of religion. South had an agriculture base economic, and heavily rely on slave labor. Cotton crop had significance growth over the years, in a way did reinforce the idea of south was doing fine with slavery. On the other hand northern society had transform to industrialize society, market and industries growth became north’s primary concern, and eager to push the south into the same path. North also view free labors were more efficient than slave labors. On the religious perceptive, south saw slavery as a god given right, and north saw slavery as evil.
ReplyDeleteIn antebellum America, the South remained primarily an agricultural society while the North had expanded to more industrialist ventures. According to Wyatt-Brown, so embedded was the institution of slavery as the Southern ‘way’ that it was integral to the survival of their economy. The Northern view, however, is reflected in Child’s opinion from the time that the mostly ‘free’ labour of the North actually compels men to work harder and more effectively.
ReplyDeleteThough both the North and South placed a great emphasis on the importance of religion, it was their interpretations of religion that differed and further severed the links between both societies. The ‘Second Great Awakening’ most favoured in the South was a significant factor in this. Wyatt-Brown observes that each society attempted to justify their own actions using selective biblical passages, which as a result saw separate religious institutions developed in either society.
The most significant differences that led present and past observers to describe the North and South as ‘different’ were economic and religious factors. George Templeton Strong viewed them as two separate social systems, and this was certainly the public view of the time.
The North and South in antebellum America had several key differences between the two societies, where the North had industrialised and progressed into the modern era, the South to remained an agricultural society, creating a division between the two economically and culturally. Slavery became the defining feature of the South, with historians labelling it as a slave society for its' reliance on slave labour, while in the North the Second Great Awakening created a popular movement of working hard for ones betterment, and demonised slavery as a sin, furthering the divide between the North and South.
ReplyDeleteSoutherner's such as Fitzhugh and Hammond argued that the "stability and peace" of the South, along with its' success and superiority over the North are to be attributed to the ownership of slaves, whereas in the North, many citizens, including Lydia Maria Child and Hinton Rowan Helper, viewed slavery as harmful to both society and the economy.
The perceived differences between the North and South by their respective residents stemmed from many factors; however, looking in hindsight, it is probable that there was a more similar group of citizens from both the North and South that shared the same ideals.
The extreme political poles of the North and South suggest two radically different societies. The North, with a self-view as progressive, sophisticated, and superior to the Southerner, who according to Hinton Rowan Helper, advanced themselves only upon agricultural luck. The South too saw themselves as superior, and separate, from the North – who's abolitionist argument offended the rights for the Southerner to own a slave - the economic pillar of their economy.
ReplyDeleteAntebellum America can therefore be seen as separate in its polarisation of political opinion, however, this is not evidence enough to argue for a societal split. The consistency in social practice; such as religion, language, post-independence identity and etiquette suggest a societal unity across the broader American states.
In many ways the North and South were different societies, the South being firmly rooted in agricultural and slave owning traditions whilst the North progressed into industrialisation. Due to these differences there was a distinction between the cultures of the North and the South. The urban situation of much of the North created a modernising culture, a culture of forward progress. On the other hand the rural situation in the South created a folk culture, based on tradition and the slave society in which they lived. Also the people of the North and the South held their own beliefs about their differences. Each society believed themselves to possess intrinsic differences in personality.
ReplyDeleteHowever despite these differences the societies of the North and the South share many common factors. The ‘objective similarity thesis’ of historian David Potter contends that the shared common attributes of law, language, political system and heritage outweigh the differences between the North and the South.
As such the extent to which the societies of the North and South differ may be small in some factors and both societies may share essential commonalities, but the perceptions of the people of the time exacerbate and create differences.
Looking at sources and statistics from Antebellum America, it becomes clear that the two societies were moving in starkly opposite social, economic and cultural directions. More importantly, though, were the perceived differences that were expressed by both Northerners and Southerners at the time. Frederick Law Olmsted, a Northerner, states that Southerners “[have] much less curiosity than the Northerner, less originating genius, less inventive talent, less patient and persevering energy.” Conversely, Southerner George Fitzhugh remarks how, “High intellectual and moral attainments, refinement of head and heart, give standing to a man in the South…Money is, with few exceptions, the only thing that ennobles at the North.” This gap in how the societies viewed themselves, the other and therefore the future of their nation is arguably what separated the two more than any concrete statistic or policy. However, the core of this difference can be seen to stem always either directly or indirectly from the issue of the South as a slave society, and it was this insurmountable difference that caused that the two societies to develop in increasingly divergent directions.
ReplyDeletePrior to the Civil War, the Southern and Northern states of America were two vastly different societies, significantly shaped by their economies and religious cultures. As the North transformed into an industrialised society and neglected slavery, its people began to associate this with a sense of forward progression, development and sophistication, a notion reflected by Northerners such as Frederick Law Olmsted. For Southerners however, it was from conservative roots that they placed slavery as the cornerstone for not only their agricultural-dependent economy but their culture as well, a culture of easy-going peace and hospitality. It is from these self-held beliefs that from both the North and South a firm belief of superiority over their counterpart can be observed. Historians such as Bruce Levine also place an importance on religion in the differences of culture between North and South. As the North began to readily adopt emerging evangelical forms of Protestantism which spoke of “free-will” and “salvation”, the South maintained a focus upon conservative, “Calvinist predestination” forms.
ReplyDeleteAt the extreme ends of the societies, the North and South differed significantly both economically and culturally. In the economic sphere, the South was more agricultural, its people according to Olmsted, were not concerned with labour but only the result. Where as the North was more industrious, concerned with the means, not only the result. Religion was one of the big cultural differences between the societies. The North and South used religion to back up their opposing views, to justify or condemn slavery. These differences, economic and cultural, are significant enough to state that The North and South were indeed very different societies. Of course there would have been moderates on both sides that perhaps were more neutral, however as these differences led to a civil war, it is fair to say they were different societies.
ReplyDelete