The American Economy had always been split through the industrial-side of the North, and the agrarian-based economy of the South. The South was greatly dependent upon slavery and was not willing to give up the main component that determined their economic status (as shown through the graph). The slaves from the South supplied 2/3 of the world's supply of cotton. This would all change during and after the Civil War.
Industries
The seven main industries that benefited greatly from the Civil War were the gun, bullet, railroad, communication through the telegraph, medical and improved amputation engineering, embalming, and war photography. The grooved rifle became one of the most important weapons in the Civil War as it had the most accurate range in a gun, during that time period. This provided more jobs for women who would make the guns and bullets and supply them to the men. The bullet industry also increased and became very vital to the Union and Confederacy as one shot could determine the success or failure of a battle. The greatest mass produced bullet during the Civil War was the minie ball. This bullet was designed to tear through flesh, muscle, and bone. The minie ball would spiral down the length of the grooved rifle barrel-greatly increasing its deadly precision and accuracy-and expand to be propelled out and find its next victim. The minie ball could be fired accurately from up to 250 yards. Thus, this opened up more jobs in the armies for sharpshooters and snipers. These bullets were smaller and were mass-produced mainly by women. Railroads greatly improved the status of the war for the Union. Abraham Lincoln put all of the railroads in charge of private companies under governmental use. This allowed for more troops, supplies (such as clothes which were in great demand), information, and other materials needed for warfare to benefit the Union. Unfortunately, the Confederacy did not take charge of these railroads that helped the Union immensely. The telegraph also brought and saved more money for the Union who greatly utilized this new source of communication with Morse Code to create an advanced communication system for instant messaging. Lincoln realized the potential and added the telegraph to a small office. He stresses over these messages and almost spent all of his time in this communication office. He often gave special orders to the generals-to their dismay-and determined many great positions during battles. Like railroads, the telegraph industry was also put under governmental authority. As the Civil War continued, the need for better medical care was needed. Many amputations often failed through gangrene and other infections that destroyed the body parts in its proximity. Thus, a medicine, named Bromine, was made to prevent gangrene. By the end of the war, wound infections were unheard of. This medicine would be mass produced in other wars when the time eventually came.
Due to the great amount of casualties during the war, a new occupation was created that made caretakers overnight millionaires. During embalming-which preserves the body and decomposing processes-the body is removed of all bodily fluids and given a liquid that gives the body a peaceful appearance. The corpse is clothed in a suit to look uniform as they are sent to the next life. This process would leave the family more relieved that they would be able to see their loved one without pain. Through embalming, other processes to preserve were made (coating the body with ice) that cost more money. This opened up more occupations for caretakers and impacted the American Economy even more. After the invention of the camera in 1685, many photographers came up with the ingenious idea-during the Civil War-to capture snapshots of the war torn country. Never before had this method of photography been used as photography was meant to capture a meaningful moment of happiness and entertainment. This new method brought thousands of photographers to the scenes of battles and brought much more interest and attention to the Civil War.
Industries
The seven main industries that benefited greatly from the Civil War were the gun, bullet, railroad, communication through the telegraph, medical and improved amputation engineering, embalming, and war photography. The grooved rifle became one of the most important weapons in the Civil War as it had the most accurate range in a gun, during that time period. This provided more jobs for women who would make the guns and bullets and supply them to the men. The bullet industry also increased and became very vital to the Union and Confederacy as one shot could determine the success or failure of a battle. The greatest mass produced bullet during the Civil War was the minie ball. This bullet was designed to tear through flesh, muscle, and bone. The minie ball would spiral down the length of the grooved rifle barrel-greatly increasing its deadly precision and accuracy-and expand to be propelled out and find its next victim. The minie ball could be fired accurately from up to 250 yards. Thus, this opened up more jobs in the armies for sharpshooters and snipers. These bullets were smaller and were mass-produced mainly by women. Railroads greatly improved the status of the war for the Union. Abraham Lincoln put all of the railroads in charge of private companies under governmental use. This allowed for more troops, supplies (such as clothes which were in great demand), information, and other materials needed for warfare to benefit the Union. Unfortunately, the Confederacy did not take charge of these railroads that helped the Union immensely. The telegraph also brought and saved more money for the Union who greatly utilized this new source of communication with Morse Code to create an advanced communication system for instant messaging. Lincoln realized the potential and added the telegraph to a small office. He stresses over these messages and almost spent all of his time in this communication office. He often gave special orders to the generals-to their dismay-and determined many great positions during battles. Like railroads, the telegraph industry was also put under governmental authority. As the Civil War continued, the need for better medical care was needed. Many amputations often failed through gangrene and other infections that destroyed the body parts in its proximity. Thus, a medicine, named Bromine, was made to prevent gangrene. By the end of the war, wound infections were unheard of. This medicine would be mass produced in other wars when the time eventually came.
Due to the great amount of casualties during the war, a new occupation was created that made caretakers overnight millionaires. During embalming-which preserves the body and decomposing processes-the body is removed of all bodily fluids and given a liquid that gives the body a peaceful appearance. The corpse is clothed in a suit to look uniform as they are sent to the next life. This process would leave the family more relieved that they would be able to see their loved one without pain. Through embalming, other processes to preserve were made (coating the body with ice) that cost more money. This opened up more occupations for caretakers and impacted the American Economy even more. After the invention of the camera in 1685, many photographers came up with the ingenious idea-during the Civil War-to capture snapshots of the war torn country. Never before had this method of photography been used as photography was meant to capture a meaningful moment of happiness and entertainment. This new method brought thousands of photographers to the scenes of battles and brought much more interest and attention to the Civil War.
Reconstruction
Before the war, the national debt was $77 million. Afterwards, the debt was $2.7 billion. The interest rate alone was greater than the previous national debt. Because of the many soldiers that fought a large portion of the national debt would be focused upon the pensions of all of the soldiers. In order to solve this national debt-in a longer period of time-the federal government enforced income taxes through the Bureau of Internal Revenue (IRS). This prevented the North's inflation from increasing over 80% whereas the South's inflation rose over 9,000% over the course of the war. This is mostly due to the fact that the Confederacy printed out more paper money to compensate with the Union's greater supply, until the war ended, resulting in the Confederacy's currency to drastically lose value. Unfortunately, the national debt would never go lower than $900 million or become the way it previously was, although with 20th century economic growth, combined with other economic success, would reduce the Civil War debt to a percentage of economic output. In conclusion, the economy would improve.
The industries highlighted above were only utilized by the Union. The Confederacy never grasped this idea of industrial integration. They suffered greatly from this predicament. The Union had supplies and reinforcement more than two times faster than the South did. Due to the South's ignorance, they would eventually lose the war. After the war, the North and South kept their respective economies, the North being industrial and the South remaining agricultural. After Reconstruction, the American Economy would be at its strongest.
Before the war, the national debt was $77 million. Afterwards, the debt was $2.7 billion. The interest rate alone was greater than the previous national debt. Because of the many soldiers that fought a large portion of the national debt would be focused upon the pensions of all of the soldiers. In order to solve this national debt-in a longer period of time-the federal government enforced income taxes through the Bureau of Internal Revenue (IRS). This prevented the North's inflation from increasing over 80% whereas the South's inflation rose over 9,000% over the course of the war. This is mostly due to the fact that the Confederacy printed out more paper money to compensate with the Union's greater supply, until the war ended, resulting in the Confederacy's currency to drastically lose value. Unfortunately, the national debt would never go lower than $900 million or become the way it previously was, although with 20th century economic growth, combined with other economic success, would reduce the Civil War debt to a percentage of economic output. In conclusion, the economy would improve.
The industries highlighted above were only utilized by the Union. The Confederacy never grasped this idea of industrial integration. They suffered greatly from this predicament. The Union had supplies and reinforcement more than two times faster than the South did. Due to the South's ignorance, they would eventually lose the war. After the war, the North and South kept their respective economies, the North being industrial and the South remaining agricultural. After Reconstruction, the American Economy would be at its strongest.