Northern Society
Pre-Civil War
Political
- smaller percentage of the population was in the military because of an overall larger population
- slavery was outlawed
- citizens were more involved in politics
- working class felt like they had a say in the direction that the Union took
Social
- average standard of living was better than that in Europe
- good clothes, food, and housing
- more luxury and consumer goods
- common belief in the value of hard work
- much was expected from children
- most people dreamed of earning enough money to move out West
- people moved around a lot, especially between industrial cities
- weaker family values, more emphasis on working
- work and home lives were strictly separate
- home served solely as a place for child-rearing
- patriarchal society, men had more power in politics and home life
- beating of wives is allowed in most states
- women never got custody in divorces
- women received very few educational opportunities
- women are seen as consumers rather than producers
- feminist groups arose from women's culture
Economic
- majority of work was concentrated in factories and industry
- average annual income was rising
- most workers were unskilled factory laborers
- 50% of wealth in 5% of families
- farming became much less important to economy as people moved deeper into cities to work
- hard work + luck = success in workplace
- mostly produced farm equipment, meat, leather, whiskey, flour, woolen goods, etc.
- most agricultural products were shipped to Europe