What was one of the major economic differences between the South and the North before the Civil War?

The correct answer highlights a significant economic divergence that characterized the United States before the Civil War. The South's economy was heavily reliant on agriculture, particularly the cultivation of cash crops like cotton, tobacco, and sugar. This agricultural focus was supported by the labor of enslaved individuals, making plantation farming the backbone of the Southern economy.

In contrast, the North developed a more diverse economic structure centered around manufacturing and industry. This included the growth of factories, expanded infrastructure such as railroads, and various trades, leading to an economy that did not depend on agriculture in the same manner as the South.

This fundamental difference in economic foundations contributed to varying social structures, political interests, and ultimately tensions that culminated in the Civil War. Recognizing the North's shift towards industrialization and the South's reliance on an agrarian economy is key to understanding the cultural and political dynamics of the era, as these economic systems influenced everything from labor relations to state rights and federal authority debates.