Which of the following best describes the economic disputes that contributed to the Civil War?

The economic disputes that contributed to the Civil War were largely rooted in the fundamental differences between the agrarian South and the industrial North. The South's economy was primarily based on agriculture, particularly the cultivation of cotton, which depended heavily on slave labor. In contrast, the North was rapidly industrializing, with a growing economy centered around manufacturing and trade. This divergence led to conflicting economic interests, particularly regarding tariffs, trade policies, and labor practices.

The South opposed tariffs that protected Northern industries because these taxes increased the cost of imported goods, which many Southern states relied upon for their economies. The North favored such tariffs to protect its growing industries. Additionally, the North's industrial economy was not able to thrive on the same scale without the Southern cotton, which was a key resource for Northern textiles.

These economic disparities fueled tensions over issues like slavery and states’ rights, as the South sought to maintain its agricultural lifestyle and the institution of slavery, whereas the North was increasingly moving toward industrialization and a stance against slavery. This clash of economic systems contributed significantly to the tensions that erupted into the Civil War.