Answer:
Easy. The executive powers during the AoC were in the hands of Congress (known as Congress of the Confederation).
The Speaker of the House is next in line because the House of Representatives was traditionally seen as the "people's house" or the most Democratic house. It wasn't until the early 20th Century that the Senate was elected by the people directly, so the leader of the more Democratic house was a fairer pick in the line of succession.
The North's economy had the factory aspect the South did not. This made the production and exchange of these goods much more helpful.
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