Contributors' names (Last edited date). Title of resource. Retrieved from http://Web address for OWL resource

Angeli, E., Wagner, J., Lawrick, E., Moore, K., Anderson, M., Soderlund, L., & Brizee, A. (2010, May 5). General format. Retrieved from http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/560/01/

The American economy was going through a transition the eve of the Civil War. What had been a first agricultural economy in 1800 was now turning into the first stages of an industrial revolution. This would result in the United States becoming one of the world's leading industrial powers by 1900.

Backround

In 1860 the South was still agricultural, but highly dependent on sales in the world market. By 1815, cotton was the most valuable export in the United States. The South did experiments with using slave labor in manufacturing and was satisfied with its agricultural economy.