The Oldest man that signed the Declaration of Independence was actually Ben Franklin (Age 70) <span />
New states were added, population grew in the territories, and cattle-ranching industry grew.
The Homestead Act provided a reward and reason for settlers to move West. With expanding population in the East, the West offered more space and cheap land. Many white immigrants moved West, willing to take the risk of settlement. This population increase caused more innovation in the West as well as an expansion of States in the Union.
So, a good answer to this would look at the following:
Economy:
The big difference between the North and South was the divide between industrial and agrarian. The Southern economy was heavily based on farming tobacco and cotton and used slave labor. The Northern economy developed into an industrial economy.
Social Structure:
Again, the Northern live was based around industrial bases located in urban centers. So, Northern social structures were based on merchant class structures while the Southern structure was based on who owned the largest plantation.
Daily Life:
Go into city v. country
Social Attitudes:
This is where the divide on slavery emerged. Religious differences between Unitarianism and Episcopal/Baptist faith fueled this
The concluding paragraph:
The question is asking you to take what you talked about above, particular in regards to geography, social structure, and daily life and apply it to the West. Does the West at the time sound more like New England's industrial urban centers or the South's spread out plantations in need of cheap workers?
