The Impact of American Civil War - Term Paper Example

TOPIC: The American Civil War INTRODUCTION: The American Civil War made the most radical changes in the American History and it changed the American ideology dramatically. It is proved that United States of America wouldn’t have changed into a liberal and democratic state as it is now, if Civil War wouldn’t have fought within and at the right time. Soon after Abraham Lincoln got elected as the 16th President of America, 11 southern states resigned from the Union and declared a confederacy, though it never existed legally. Confederacy was formed because of Lincoln’s campaign against Slavery. This declaration enraged Lincoln who in retaliation announced a war which lasted for four years from 1861 to 1864. The reason for war was to condemn and eradicate slavery from United States of America and people from any cast, color or creed should be dealt equally with uniformity. LITERATURE REVIEW: The authority of National Government was owned by Lincoln as he was the elected President by the Republicans. Lincoln did not bear any harsh values for Southerners; in fact he wanted U.S.A to stay as one nation with one regulatory body. He once said on his second inaugural address: “With malice toward none; with charity for all; with firmness in the right, as God gives us to see the right, let us strive on to finish the work we are in; to bind up the nation's wounds; to care for him who shall have borne the battle, and for his widow and his orphan...to do all which may achieve and cherish a just and lasting peace among ourselves and with all nations.” Every war or a fight leave its impacts on a nation and the greatest impact Civil War made was the condemnation of slavery in Southern America and growth of industrial sector in North America. Southern America was rich in cotton and was considered as the “King of Cotton” at that time. South was the biggest cotton exporter across the world, therefore was confident on their economical stability. Southerners in cotton business possessed 55% of enslaved people and were greatly threatened on the idea of freeing the slaves. However, North was growing fast with industrial development. The war against slavery infused the spirit of nationalism and equality within America and especially Republicans with 25 states supported Lincoln’s ideology whereas, 11 stood against it. It is true that America after its independence was still a weak nation. (Todd, 2001) People of America fought revolutionary war for freedom with an aim that all human beings should be treated equally but soon after America was declared as an independent nation, Southern Americans forgot the point they got freedom for. Southerners themselves adopted the strategy of keeping slaves and discriminated people according to their color, cast or creed. Civil war emerged when Lincoln officially stood hard against the concept of slavery and while the civil war was going on, (Schwartz, 2008) Lincoln authored the Emancipation Proclamation in 1863, which was legally declared in 1865 by making Thirteenth Amendment in legal structure of laws which says: “Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude, except as a punishment for crime whereof the party shall have been duly convicted, shall exist within the United States, nor any place subject to their jurisdiction” IMPACTS: It is not deniable that Civil War proved to be the bitterest war in the American History in which America lost 600,000 lives and 400,000 people were severely wounded, but the impact it made on the civilians was far more better and improved their ideology for ever after. Lincoln was unfortunate that he did not get any chance to watch the positive outcomes but his efforts are still respected and traced. (Nevins, 1960) The civil war brought United States of America together in many ways: Slavery was the major bone of differences between the two regions but it was ended after Civil War and it helped people from both regions to think together as one body. It ended the idea of seceding states on every next issues and it is since Civil War that America never faced such issues and molded people to respect their union and stand united. Before Civil War, there were two working systems in United States of America, Industrialism and Seigneurialism. They both were ruled by the wealthy class and middle class was kept under pressure and were forced to adjust accordingly. After the Civil War, the government isolated seigneurialism and promoted industrialism by inviting African Americans to work in factories on wages and raise their living standards. Proper taxation system was formed for both systems but farmers and agricultural people were not capable of paying it so left their lands idle and moved to urban areas for earning bread and butter. Thus the reforms after the Civil War helped people to develop America as the most influential and dominant industrial country of that time. In short, Civil War directed people to reconcile their beliefs and the major transformation was seen in American Nation was the statement: ‘The United States is ‘ from ‘The United States are’ FOLLOW UP: (Harris, 1997) The transformation of American ideology was the biggest achievement of Lincoln efforts towards slave frees Nation, but there were certain things that were left to be addressed but unfortunately Lincoln did not get time to accomplish his complete vision. The Things which were not dealt properly are that African Americans were not given the complete right to vote and they were asked to appear in a test before voting. Though many white American in southern areas were also illiterate but were not made liable to appear in the tests. After the Civil War ended, people were expecting that the representative from both the warring parties would sit together to reconcile and reconstruct the issues and would leave a positive impression but Lincoln denied the idea of bringing the representatives on one to one table as this fight was to kill the immorality from one nation. America was never into two divisions and no different parties existed, who should be called to reconcile. Lincoln steered Union to victory and condemned confederacy’s claim for an independent state. Thus, after the confederacy surrendered, America got together as one nation and Lincoln as comparatively soft hearted President took quick steps for reconciliation and reconstructions, which he already started way before during the civil war and offered confederate states to, rejoin if willing to respect the Union. OUTCOMES: (Horton, 2003) In the aftermath of the civil war, people from both sides incredibly fostered to reconstruct and reconcile their relationship as a nation. The Northerners were happy to see America as a slave free nation as this division was sucking the roots and was ruining the roots of American Ideology. After the Civil war, Northerners had little to reconstruct as most of the fight was fought in South America. Dead bodies were quickly buried and wounded were treated. New strategies were formed to make people move on with their normal routines. However, many northerners were worried over an idea of Blacks coming to north and invading their business markets. Northerners were happy on victory but did not do much to help southerners and considered African Americans as obstacles in the progression era. On the other hand, Southerners took little time to adjust to the changes occurred in their lives and initially were not happy to accept their loss and bow down on the American Ideology. Many of the black Americans had no place to live or eat. Southerners were depressed on their precious lives, buildings and infra structures as most of the destruction were done in South America. (W. Blight, 2003) African Americans for the first time were free to live their lives the way they wanted and were rejoiced on their freedom, after the 13th, 14 and 15th amendments in the constitution. CONCLUSION: After going through the historic event of Civil War in American History, (Horton, 2003) Lincoln’s ability of bringing the change cannot be challenged as he was firm with his vision and made others follow his vision as well after his death. Lincoln provoked people to take the issue of inequality seriously and fight against it to bring in equality and uniformity. Thus Civil War was not the war of territorial issues but was the war against inequality and injustice done among the same nation. Civil War not only freed people from slavery and discrimination but also brought social, economical and political reforms in United States of America. By the end of 19th Century, American was the only country, who could lead other countries in industrial power, (Dr. Blight, 2003) states Civil War as the most defining event in the American History. BIBLIOGRAPHY: Barry Schwartz, “Abraham Lincoln in the post heroic era: history and memory in late Twentieth Century America” The University of Chicago Press – 2008 William C. Harris, With Charity for All: Lincoln and the Restoration of the Union (1997) Dr. James Oliver Horton, Dr. David W. Blight, “The Meaning of Civil War and Reconstruction” Institute of American History for the National Park Service, March 17-19, 2003, West Virginia. Allan Nevins,” Ordeal of the Union: volume 6. War Becomes Revolution, 1862–1863” (1960) pp 231-41, 273 Anne M.Todd, “The Revolutionary War” Capstone Publishing Company 2001, Minnesota, USA. Read More