Changes

'''Question:'''Why did the South think it could win the Civil War?<ref>It assumed that Britain would come to its aid because it was an important manufacturer of cotton.  But the South didn't take into account that Britain already got plenty of cotton from India, and thus could do without American cotton.</ref>

'''Question:'''Why did the South think it could win the Civil War?<ref>It assumed that Britain would come to its aid because it was an important manufacturer of cotton.  But the South didn't take into account that Britain already got plenty of cotton from India, and thus could do without American cotton.</ref>

==The Civil War Starts==

==The North and South: Strengths and Weaknesses==

The South had a feeling of invincibility from its tremendous economy, which was based on high prices for “King Cotton” and other crops, such as tobacco and sugar cane.  The South also felt that the North lacked a will to fight and, if it did, Britain and France would recognize and help the South due to their dependence on its exports like cotton, tobacco, rice and sugar cane.  The South also had strategic advantages:  controlled the mouth of the Mississippi and need only defend rather than conquer.  The South considered its men in much better condition to fight.  The South had better generals, and would have done far better had its generals like Stonewall Jackson not died in battle.

The South had a feeling of invincibility from its tremendous economy, which was based on high prices for “King Cotton” and other crops, such as tobacco and sugar cane.  The South also felt that the North lacked a will to fight and, if it did, Britain and France would recognize and help the South due to their dependence on its exports like cotton, tobacco, rice and sugar cane.  The South also had strategic advantages:  controlled the mouth of the Mississippi and need only defend rather than conquer.  The South considered its men in much better condition to fight.  The South had better generals, and would have done far better had its generals like Stonewall Jackson not died in battle.

But the North benefited from the railroad system, heavy immigration and a much more balanced economy.  Opposition to immigration, in the 1850s had arisen in the North through the American (Know-Nothing) Party, which roused popular fears about the Irish Catholics flooding into America.  But the greater numbers from immigration ended up helping the North in the war.  The North also had control of the United States Navy, which proved to be useful.

But the North benefited from the railroad system, heavy immigration and a much more balanced economy.  Opposition to immigration, in the 1850s had arisen in the North through the American (Know-Nothing) Party, which roused popular fears about the Irish Catholics flooding into America.  But the greater numbers from immigration ended up helping the North in the war.  The North also had control of the United States Navy, which proved to be useful.

== What Else Happened in the 1850s? ==

== What Else Happened in the 1850s? ==