Why was the civil war significant - Essay Example

Download file to see previous pages Other than the cause or the objective which originally motivated the pursuit and concretization of the Civil War, one could also look into matters of consequence from which to judge the grounds it is signified by. Pondering on the significance of U.S. Civil War bears the equivalent work of recounting the occurrences which essentially depict the post-war impact and which may be put together and labelled into what has since been known in U.S. History as ‘Reconstruction’ at the height of which could be found the tumultuous state of political affairs which not merely distinguished the philosophy of the Radical Republicans from that of the Democrats but even shaped the fate of the ‘freedmen’, in the process. During the period of Reconstruction (1865 - 1877) particularly with respect to the early years of its commencement by the persistent rule of Congress that was then chiefly composed of the Radicals, the federal government experienced yet another severe case of division between the two dominant political parties. On one hand, the Radical Republicans who had become accustomed to dealing with the issue of slavery conveyed the desire for implementing Reconstruction policies in a manner that would materialize a vision in which “Equality of opportunity created a more fluid social structure” as exemplified via “the model of free individuals, competing equally in the labor market and enjoying equal political rights” (Faragher et al, 464). On the contrary, however, Pres. Andrew Johnson who belonged to the Democratic Party contested such visionary scheme by augmenting the powers of civil governments in the South as well as replacing certain military officials with a commanding staff that seemed less likely persuaded in advancing the cause of the blacks especially in matters concerning suffrage (Wheeler et al, 310). Before the Civil War broke out and by the time it took place, factions generally existed between the federal North and the confederate South but after the test of martial skills, bloodshed, and the taste of several deaths came another era that would eventually justify whether or not the Civil War deserved to be treated with significance. Apparently, through these factions narrowed within the political domains of the federal government, Reconstruction served as a projection of Civil War or the rebirth of a principle which resembled a test by fire designed to refine and determine whose spirits remained driven and sincere in defending the great original cause. This became evident the moment when the Moderates and the Radicals of Republicans united to form a single huge force in the House of Representatives aimed at impeaching Johnson whom they charged heavily for violating the Tenure of Office Act in spite of the truth that the president’s removal from office was due to his intense opposition toward the policies of Congressional Reconstruction which the Republicans could not afford to take any longer (466). Through the victory of the Radical Republicans, Reconstruction Acts triumphed over those of Restoration which Johnson attempted to promulgate during his effective term. Hence, with zeal kept on continuing to promote the core ideals of the Civil War, the Republicans managed to enable the Congressional Reconstruction to establish the Freedmen’s Bureau which, according to the findings of Wheeler and company, “was given additional federal support to set up schools for African Americans, negotiate labor contracts, and with the military, help monitor elections” ...Download file to see next pagesRead More