How did the Civil War transform the national economy and create a stronger nation state?
1 Answer
The economy became even more industrial
Explanation:
The Civil War meant the victory of the industrial North over the Rural South. The North needed tariffs to protect its industry against European competition, notably British competition. Tariffs had been a major source of enmity between the North and the South, even more than slavery.
In 1862, Abraham Lincoln signed a bill which aimed at creating a transcontinental railraod, the project was fulfilled in 1869. The conquest of the West served as a unifier after the fraticide episode of secession and railroads(i.e heavy industies) gave it its impulse.
Industry triumphed basically and the period spanning from 1865 to 1900 was called the Gilded Age since it was prosperity on the surface and wa characterized by inequalities. It was coined by Mark Twain.
