The economy in the North was exclusively based on manufacturing, with crops like tobacco, hemp, wheat, and vegetables being produced. Conversely, in the South, the economy relied heavily on cotton and sugar cultivation, both of which depended on intensive slave labor, making slavery more integral there.
In the Northern states, African Americans were more integrated into society; they had rights to own property, operate businesses and farms, pay taxes, and actively fought against slavery through political and strategic means—for example, serving as conductors on the Underground Railroad, helping enslaved people escape to free territories and Canada.
In contrast, Southern African Americans remained bound by slavery's restrictions, unable to travel freely, gather in groups as in the North, or own enterprises or churches. Despite their desire to oppose slavery, their chances to do so were considerably limited compared to their Northern counterparts.
