UNIT 7

Sectionalism

What is sectionalism?

Sectionalism is loyalty to and personal identification with a section of the U.S. ( like the South) instead of to the whole nation.

Differences among regions affected the actions, reactions, and viewpoints of its people.

Northern Region

Human Characteristics: most cities (more urban); most reform organizations, many factory workers, high population and growth.

Geography: Cool climate, rocky soil (poor farmland), fast rivers (good for factories powered by water), fishing resources.

Economy: manufacturing (textiles), fishing, shipping and wage labor

Southern Region

Human Characteristics: plantations, family farms, large slave populations (more than half in some states) and low population growth.

Geography: Warm climate (good farmland)

Economy: Farming (cotton, tobacco, rice, sugar), slave labor, slaves (valued as property) were huge portion of southern wealth.

Western Region

Human Characteristics: lightly populated but growing; mixture of ethnic groups (like Indians, Spanish, French)

Geography: Plentiful land, mineral deposits, fur resources

Economy: small farms, mining (coal, gold, silver), fur trapping