The Northern and Southern Cultural Differences

The Northern and Southern Cultural Differences

During the 18th century differences in life, thought, and interests had developed between the Southern and Northern colonies. The origin of these differences grew from the differences in religion, economics, and social structures between the Southern and Northern Colonies. Slavery, manufacturing, education, and agriculture influenced the everyday way of life for the colonists. This has had everlasting effects on America till this day.

Agriculture and environment were factors in the way each culture grew. The fertile land of the south along with a warmer climate made it possible for the colonists to grow cash crops such as tobacco, rice and indigo. However, this was not the case with the northern colonies. The poor soiled, rocky and, mountain area and long winters made it hard for the colonists to raise enough food to feed there families. This made it necessary for the northern colonists to look their natural resources as a way to make a living. These natural resources included fish, whales, trees, and furs. The southern colonists did not have to develop all their natural resources because the farmland proved to be very reliable and profitable for them.

Trade and manufacturing were ways that the colonist got the English goods they needed. It was also a way that they earned money by selling the products that they had grown, made or acquired. Since farming was not as important in the northern colonies as it was in the southern ones, a greater focus was placed on developing industry to strengthen the economy. The northern colonies manufactured and traded guns, molasses, rum, and printing presses. Fishing, whaling, and furring were also contributors to the economical growth of the Northern colonies. Jobs such as shopkeepers, artisans, shipwrights, butchers, coopers, seamstresses, cobblers, bakers, carpenters, masons, and many other specialized professions made up the northern society. Husbands and wives often worked as teams to teach their children crafts so that it could be passed on through the family. The economy of the south was mainly based on agriculture and trade. The slave trade also played an important role in the economy of the southern colonies.

Slavery was probably the most influential factor in the developing differences between the two cultures. Southern cultures developed a farm economy that could not survive without slave labor. Slave owners often became leaders in there communities. They were members in their local governments. Laws were made that prevented slaves from marrying, own property, or earn their freedom. These laws also did not allow slaves to be educated. Because all the hard work was done by the slaves, the slave owners had time and the education to greatly influence political life in southern colonies. Slavery did not become a force in the northern colonies because of different economical reasons. The cold weather and poor soil did not support the farm economy that the south had. This resulted in the northern colonies to depend on an economy that included manufacturing and trade.

Religious beliefs had its role in making the colonies different from one another. The Anglican religion, which included the Baptists and Presbyterians faiths, didn’t have an everyday effect on the way the southerners lived there lives. They didn’t really consider slave or Native Americans religions to actual religions. Most of them tried to convert the slaves and Indians to their religion. Up in the northern colonies, religion was a more controlling factor. There were many religions throughout the northern colonies, but the