Economic Challenges and Changes Post-Civil War

The video explores how economic factors influenced the outcome of the Civil War. The South's reliance on cash crops like cotton and tobacco contrasted with the North's industrial economy. The North's superior industrial capacity and population size gave it a significant advantage. Legislation like the Homestead and Morrill Acts further bolstered the North's economy. Despite attempts, the South struggled with food shortages and blockades. Post-war, economic disparities persisted, with the North's economy thriving while the South lagged. European powers showed limited involvement, mainly due to public opposition to slavery.

What were some of the key factors that led to the inevitability of the Civil War?

• Politics, trade deals, and slavery

• Geography, climate, and resources

• Technology, innovation, and education

• Religion, culture, and language

Which crop was most significant for the Southern economy before the Civil War?

• Rice

• Corn

• Cotton

• Wheat

How did the North's industrial capacity compare to the South's during the Civil War?

• The North had fewer factories but more workers

• The North had more factories and workers

• The South had more factories and workers

• The South had more factories but fewer workers

What was a major consequence of the Northern blockades on the Southern economy?

• Improved Southern infrastructure

• Growth of Southern cities

• Collapse of Southern exports

• Increased Southern exports

Which act allowed settlers to claim land if they cultivated it during the Civil War?

• The Morrill Act

• The Agricultural Act

• The Homestead Act

• The Land Grant Act

What was the purpose of the Morrill Act during the Civil War?

• To establish military bases

• To create agricultural and machinery colleges

• To fund the war effort

• To build railroads

How did the North stabilize its economy during the Civil War?

• By reducing taxes

• By creating paper money and a National Bank

• By increasing imports

• By selling land to foreign countries

What was the estimated GDP of the former Union states after the Civil War?

• 8 trillion dollars

• 11.5 trillion dollars

• 15 trillion dollars

• 5.5 trillion dollars

Which region had more welfare-dependent states post-Civil War?

• The Western states

• The Northern states

• The former Southern states

• The former Union states

What was a long-term economic struggle for the South after the Civil War?

• Rebuilding its industrial base

• Expanding its agricultural output

• Increasing its population

• Reinventing its economy