The North was well on its way toward a commercial and manufacturing economy. This would have an impact on its war making ability.

More backround on south and north...

By 1860, 90 percent of the nation's manufacturing output came from northern states. The North produced 17 times more cotton and wooden textiles than the South.

North and South mobilized for war, and the relative strengths of the "free market" economic systems became clear. Nearly every area of union economy witnessed increase in production.