The other US manpower advantage.

[wausaubob]

Surprisingly, there were 270,897 women employed in manufacturing in the US in 1860, according to the census. https://www2.census.gov/library/publications/decennial/1860/manufactures/1860c-22.pdf?#
71,153 in MA, 53,297 in NY, 36,539 in PA and 26, 497 in CT. So about 2/3rds in just those 4 states. Since the process was started before the Civil War began, it it was another substantial reason the US had an unlimited workforce, and could recruit and conscript workers without shutting down the economy.

 

[damYankee]

Surprisingly, there were 270,897 women employed in manufacturing in the US in 1860, according to the census. https://www2.census.gov/library/publications/decennial/1860/manufactures/1860c-22.pdf?#
71,153 in MA, 53,297 in NY, 36,539 in PA and 26, 497 in CT. So about 2/3rds in just those 4 states. Since the process was started before the Civil War began, it it was another substantial reason the US had an unlimited workforce, and could recruit and conscript workers without shutting down the economy.

And the South had millions of slaves who were forced into labor, sounds like the south had an edge in human resources but were too pig headed to use it correctly.

 

[wausaubob]

And the South had millions of slaves who were forced into labor, sounds like the south had an edge in human resources but were too pig headed to use it correctly.

Something like that. Odd, the US let women work, incorporated a large number of freed men and women into the armed services and into support roles, and strongly encouraged immigration. We don't know how many people returned to the US once it became clear that the Fugitive Slave Act was not being enforced. It may have been on the US side, a full commitment to do nearly anything reasonable to win. Women in combat was the one thing that remained rare or secret.