The North had a much stronger economy than the South, and this advantage became increasingly important as the war dragged on. The North was able to produce more weapons, ammunition, and supplies than the South, and it could also afford to pay its soldiers more. This gave the North a significant advantage on the battlefield.
The Union blockade of the South
The Union Navy blockaded the Southern coast, preventing the South from importing arms, ammunition, and other supplies. This made it difficult for the South to fight the war, and it also caused widespread shortages of food and other goods.
The leadership of Abraham Lincoln
Abraham Lincoln was a brilliant leader who rallied the North behind the war effort. He was able to inspire the troops, keep the Northern economy going, and build alliances with other countries.
The support of the border states
The border states were those states that lay along the Mason-Dixon Line. These states were divided in their loyalties, but many of them eventually sided with the North. This gave the North a strategic advantage, as it controlled the Mississippi River and the border between the North and the South.
The emancipation of slaves
In 1863, Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation, which freed all slaves in Confederate-held territory. This was a major turning point in the war, as it gave the North a moral cause to fight for. It also led to the enlistment of thousands of African American soldiers in the Union Army.