The North and South had several important differences that divided the nation in the years leading up to the Civil War. The South relied heavily on slave labor for its large agricultural operations while the North used free labor in factories and businesses. Culturally, the North was more urban while the South was rural. Economically, the North favored tariffs to protect industries while the South opposed tariffs that would raise prices. Regarding constitutional issues, the North wanted a strong central government while the South believed in states' rights to make their own laws.