For a nation not prepared to wage war, Northerners and Southerners, in a short time, made effective use of the technological advances brought to them by the industrial revolution. The industrial revolution was a period of rapid growth and alteration and the use of machines made mass production facile. The growth of the industrial revolution rectified the economy and made it feasible for the armies to wage war. In addition, the economy in the North was stronger than the economy in the South.

"With a population of 22 million, the North had a grater military potential. The South had a population of 9 million, but of that number, nearly 4 million were enslaved blacks..." (Funk and Wagnalls 331).

The North, with more manpower and a larger industry, had a greater advantage than the South in winning the war.

Mass production was made affordable to the North and South by the industrial revolution...