[mac_truck]

For similar reasons that the north did not grow their own cotton.

Complete rubbish. Are you suggesting that geographic conditions existed that prevented the south from growing...trees? ...or that the South lacked natural harbors?

The truth is NOTHING prevented the South from competing with the North for trade and shipping, EXCEPT ingenuity and hard work.

[Michael.SF.]

Are you suggesting that geographic conditions existed that prevented the south from growing...trees?

Oh my. Where do I begin? I guess that was my fault, cotton was to simplistic of an example.

Let's try this:

Why did Detroit become the center of the automobile industry in the US?

Answer: That was where the talent was.

Similarly, the shipping industry developed in the NE for many reasons, but simply put, that was where the people who knew best lived.