More importantly, the puritans had considered essential for the future of economic success the access to education and therefore established elementary schools throughout the state (Wright, 1947). Therefore, the degree of literacy was greater than in other parts of the country because there was a comprehensive access to education.
By comparison, the South was different in this area. The southern society had a particular system of private tutoring which allowed children to have access to education. However, for ordinary people, this was not an option and they most often appealed to the assistance of the minister. Still, the quality of education received in this way was limited and in many situations the young generation remained illiterate. It can be said therefore that the poor level of education was in part due to the lack of financial support and in part to the economic practices existing in the South which did not allow families from the cotton and tobacco plantations to ensure that their children get a proper education. Moreover, due to the manual work they were engaged in, adults were even more reluctant to attain any type of educational activities.
Finally, the economic development of the North and South influenced the political relation between the two sides, indirectly. It should be underlined the fact that the ties with the British empire, although became much more loose than prior to the American Revolution, still...
This was precisely a result of the economic needs the South had which included the help of the British for additional supplies (Jenkins, 1997). In this sense, it seemed that the South was more willing to cooperate with the English side because of the economic profit it might bring, while the North, taking into account that its basic industrial activities did not require extensive help or assistance from the British, refused consistent contacts with the Empire. From this point-of-view as well, there were certain tensions created that also contributed to the start of the Civil War.
Overall, it can be concluded that the economic development of the North and South taken by comparison influenced greatly the relationship between them and its effects eventually led to the Civil War.
References
Jenkins, P. A history of the United States. New York: Palgrave, 1997.
McAllister, J. "Colonial America, 1607-1776." The Economic History Review, New Series, Vol. 42, No. 2. (May, 1989), pp. 245-259.
Weinberg, Meyer. A Short History of American Capitalism. Gloucester: New History Press, 2002.
Wright, Louis B. The Atlantic Frontier: Colonial American Civilization, 1607-1763. New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 1947.
