Slave States vs Free States

Slave states were those where slavery was legally permitted and practiced, mainly in the South, relying on enslaved labor for agriculture and other industries. Free states, primarily in the North, had abolished slavery or did not allow it. This division created political and economic tensions, especially as the nation expanded westward, with debates over whether new territories should allow slavery. These differences significantly contributed to the conflicts leading up to the Civil War, as fundamentally differing views on human rights and economic systems clashed.