As historian Ted Alexander notes, in his essay on the causes of the civil war, "Beneath this great wealth and prosperity, America seethed. Whenever you have two people-or peoples- [the North and South] joined in politics but doing diametrically opposing things, it becomes almost inevitable that at some point tensions and jealousies would break out." 3 Alexander points out that tensions between the two sides of America were inevitable. Historian, Ira Berlin writes "As the North and the South became more and more different, their goals and desires also separated. Arguments over national policy grew even fiercer. The North's economic progress as the Southern economy began to stall fueled the fires of resentment. By the 1840s and 1850s, North and South had each evolved extreme positions that had as much to do with serving their own political interests as with the morality of slavery." 4 This once again, demonstrates how the economic differences between the Northern and Southern states, led to serious tensions between the two. Northerners were being morally challenged by the concept of slavery, whereas Southerners, were defending it due to their requirement of slavery in their economic systems. Serious tensions between the free and salve states evolved from different developing economic systems in The United States. .
In addition to economic differences, the Political differences between the North and South, also caused tensions that had been developing for decades. As America evolved Southern states and their representation argued for powerful state rights to protect the interest of farmers. The Southern representation at the turn of the century were the Anti-Federalists, led by Thomas Jefferson. The Anti-Federalists spoke primarily for agricultural interests and values. They distrusted bankers, cared little for commerce and manufacturing, and believed that freedom and democracy flourished best in a rural society composed of self-sufficient farmers.
