Cotton was a profitable and demanded crop. In order to grow it, the south used large plantations which required slaves. The southern economy was based on agriculture and slavery. In the north, life was getting more and more city-like. The Industrial Revolution was building a strong industrial economy. More people and factories were appearing in the north. Abolitionists criticized the southern way of life. They argued that it relied too much on slavery. The south began feeling that their way of life and their economy were at stake.
Eli Whitney helped start the Industrial Revolution. In 1793, he invented the cotton gin which automated the separation of cottonseed from the cotton fiber. His machine greatly decreased the amount of time needed to separate the cotton. The cotton gin could generate 50 pounds of cotton daily. This machine caused a rise in the demand of cotton. With the new demands, they south needed to produce more cotton. Their way to do this was acquire more slaves.
The Industrial Revolution was a period of time that greatly increased manufacturing and industry. Many new factories and inventions came from this period of advancement. The Industrial Revolution mostly effected the north. The south remained based on agriculture. Their economies were completely different.