“Economic differences between the North and the South were more significant than slavery to the outbreak of the Civil War.” Discuss.

The question requires that candidates offer a considered and balanced review of the statement that economic differences between the North and the South were more significant than slavery to the outbreak of the Civil War. The candidates may offer equal coverage of both the economic differences between the regions and slavery, or they may prioritize their discussion of one or the other. However, both aspects will be a feature of the response. Candidates may refer to the differences between the industrial North and the agricultural South and the resulting crises over national economic policies on tariffs, which increased sectionalism. Slavery was fundamental to the Southern economy and any limitation would endanger Southern prosperity. Slavery and its expansion were at the core of every disagreement between the North and South from the Missouri Compromise of 1820 to the Kansas–Nebraska Act of 1854. Other relevant factors may be addressed, for example cultural differences or states’ rights, but with a focus on the issue in the question. Candidates’ opinions or conclusions will be presented clearly and supported by appropriate evidence.

The discussion of the statement: "Economic differences between the North and the South were more significant than slavery to the outbreak of civil war" proved a popular question with mixed performance. Most responses showed relevant knowledge, but only few demonstrated depth of knowledge and analysis. Many responses turned out to be descriptive accounts of the economic differences and slavery. Mostly generalized as to economic differences between the two regions and perhaps acknowledged that slavery had a role. The stronger essays provided some background but delved mostly into the issue and events of the 1850s, emphasizing the increased tensions over the expansion of slavery. Quite a few applied the rise of the Republican party and Lincoln's election as having been the trigger for separation and war.