- Climate: The North's climate was not well suited to the crops that were grown in the South, such as cotton and tobacco. These crops required a long growing season and warm temperatures, which the North did not have. The northern climate, with shorter growing seasons and colder temperatures, was much better suited for crops such as wheat and corn that could be harvested in a shorter amount of time.
- Geography: The North was also hindered by its geography in that it had poor soil for farming and lack of major waterways such as rivers to connect it with other regions. This made it difficult and costly to transport goods, making it uneconomical to rely on slave labor.
- Industrialization: The North was also undergoing rapid industrialization during this time, which created a demand for wage laborers. This meant that there was less of a need for slaves in the North, as wage laborers could be hired to do the same jobs that slaves would have been used for.
- Values: The North was also much more diverse in population and culture than the South. This diversity, along with the religious views of many Northerners, led to a moral rejection of slavery and support for abolitionist movements.