Why were the westerners more in agreement with northerners?

Westerners were often more in agreement with Northerners due to shared economic interests, particularly in industrialization and infrastructure development, which contrasted with the agrarian, slave-dependent economy of the South. Additionally, many Westerners opposed the expansion of slavery into new territories, aligning them with Northern abolitionist sentiments. This common ground fostered political alliances and reinforced their mutual support for policies favoring free labor and economic opportunity.