A Level History - America - Practice Exam

What term describes the economic disparity between the industrial North and the agrarian South?

1. Economic divide

2. Industrial imbalance

3. Market disparity

4. Capitalist difference

The correct answer is: Economic divide

The term that aptly describes the economic disparity between the industrial North and the agrarian South is "economic divide." This phrase captures the significant differences in economic structures, resources, and levels of development between these two regions during the 19th century. The North was characterized by a rapidly growing industrial economy, which was supported by factories, a diverse workforce, and advanced transportation systems, such as railroads. In contrast, the South's economy was primarily agrarian, reliant on agriculture, particularly cotton cultivation, and heavily dependent on enslaved labor. This fundamental difference created contrasting economic interests and social dynamics, leading to tensions that played a crucial role in the events leading up to the Civil War. Other terms, such as "industrial imbalance," while they hint at the differences, do not fully encompass the broader economic disparity and societal implications present between the two regions. Similarly, "market disparity" and "capitalist difference" do not specifically highlight the structural economic divisions or regional significance that the "economic divide" encapsulates.