A Society that Slipped Like the Wind - Case Study Example

A Society that Slipped like the Wind Time before the American Civil War (1861-1865 The American Civil War could have been such an incident of masskilling and nationwide destruction that may have created a great effect over common people’s psyche but there are several other reasons that played crucial roles behind occurrence of the act of such warfare. It is since the 1820s that the foundation of the War was getting prepared. According to the historical references we know that since the time the white people intruded the land, they claimed the superior position in the land and at the same time they used the black people as well as the natives of native America as their slaves. Almost over two centuries these people were being tortured, brutalized, tormented and murdered by the intruders but finally they started to realize that they also have individual entity and they are not like the beasts as they are treated by the ‘white rulers.’ These people started claiming their rights and equality in the society just same as the white people. However, just the moment these downtrodden people started to express their feeling, it immediately created a great deal of impact over the sense of superiority of the white people the rate of oppression as well as inflicting torture also increased. It is during the time of 1820s that the so-called slaves were rising against the arbitrary ruling system of the white people. Clearly, America during this time was divided between two clear sections the North and the South. People residing at the North, were mainly people belonging to the ruling class and people of the South were mainly dominated by the white men. Perhaps, the first clear indication of such rebellion occurred during the year 1920. In this year Missouri Compromise, though the state is basically a slave state but at the same time it restricted the spread of the system of slavery anywhere else in the territory of Louisiana. Citing from the novel of Mitchell, ‘Gone with the Wind’, we find the word ‘nigger’ used to refer to the afro Americans. (Mitchell) the concept of white skin to be the ideal beauty has been introduced through the appearance of Scarllet. When the author mentions ‘The black bombazine, …… set off white skin superbly’ (Mitchell), she indicates a kind of contrast where it seems that the white people were powerful at the expense of the blacks. This also indicates a consciousness that aroused as the war was about to begin. Till this time period the white people did not take the whole situation in a very serious way but the white section of the society was also realizing that a tempest in on its way of approach.       Just within a decade such assumption proved to be true with the occurrence of the Nat Turner’s slave rebellion. The ruling section of the society had never presumed anything about the occurrence of such rebellion. At the same time the Nat Turner’s slave rebellion was also acted a source of great oppression for the slaves across the nation, especially in the South. The ‘slaves’ never had this idea that they were capable of and also had the courage to fight against the oppression of the common white men. This slave rebellion did send the clear message to the salves all over the nation that the recent protest has been done by people belonging to the same community like theirs. This, if they wish, they also can claim their rightful rights from the white people. Incidents like Nat Turner’s slave rebellion was definitely a shock against the stubbornness of white dominance and at the same time it has also been realized by the salves that construction of better organization is required so that their claims are properly respected. As a result The Liberator was established. It was a newspaper that voiced the opinion of the slaves to abolish the system of slavery from the nation. (Gallagher, 9) It was by the year 1835 that the “Angry differences between the people of the North and South” was heightened to such an extent that was never witnessed before (Grimsted, 3). Observing the situation the Southern Times of Columbia commented, “Mobs, strikes, riots, abolition movements … seem to be the engrossing topics of the day …. The whole country … seems ready to take fire on the most trivial occasion.” (Southern Times; Grimsted, 3) the conditions of the blacks could be described in the words of Mitchell, “Grinning negroes, excited as always at a party, … Swarms of children, black and white, ran yelling about the newly green lawn, playing hopscotch and tag and boasting how much they were going to eat”. (Mitchell) These observations clearly show that during the period of time condition of the whole society was extremely sensitive. A condition of lawlessness prevailed in the whole society that provided clear confirmation of the fact that no matter how hard the rulers try to resist the outburst of such situation but it will not be possible for them to stop the slaves from achieving their rightful claim. The formation of the Union of the slavery Free State was already on a progress. In the year 1845 Texas entered the Union and the compromise of 1850 also included California as a free state in the Union. These types of changes in the conventional political as well as social order created huge agitation among the white people as they started realizing that the kind of benefit they used to sow from the slaves were gradually slipping out of their hands. Such agitation received a further boost as the Supreme Court judge Dred Scott came up with a judgment that since that time onwards the Federal government of the nation can interfere within the issues related to slavery. Thus, almost the four decades of the pre-Civil War social condition clearly showed that there were several factors that actually played a leading part in constructing the grounds as well as occurrence of the Civil War. The Civil War (1861-1865): Mitchell’s novel ‘Gone with the Wind’ shows the transformation brought about within the people at the call of Lincoln. The author speaks of a party, ‘barbecue at Twelve Oaks’ where Scarlett, Ashley and others attended and the men left excitedly at the call of the war from Lincoln. (Mitchell) this shows the awareness and the consciousness of the civilians about the situation that prevailed. The first battle of the Ball Run (July, 1861) is characterized by the first major conflict between the forces of southern and northern enemies. In this context, it is interesting to see that the battle was fought, depending mainly over the emotional grounds. It was clearly witnessed that soldiers of both sides were extremely inefficient to fight a battle in an organized. Timothy H. Donovan and Thomas E. Greiss have commented in the book The American Civil War, that the battle, “exposed to the view of layman and professional, private and general, the unpreparedness of American armies to fight successful major battles …. The leadership of the armies lacked the training and experience needed for the scale of management necessary in the Civil War.” (Donovan, Greiss, 25) The selection of Abraham Lincoln as the president of the nation in the year 1960 was a special boost for the southern army. The first battle of Ball Run was not only fought over the land but at the same time soldiers were also fighting over the waterfront too. It was understood by the commanders of the Union troop unless Cairo, which is located at the confluence of the rivers Ohio and Mississippi are won, it will not be possible for the troop to receive an advantageous place over the waterfront battle. The city however, was protected by the brigadier general Ulysses S. Grant almost for the first year of war. In this context brigadier general Grant demands special attention under extremely hostile climatic condition of Cairo he fought and retained his hold over the city for a long time. On the other hand the command of the Federal military that fought along the waterfront line, mainly rested over Major general Don Carlos Buell and Henry W. Halleck. The battle between Federal and Confederates became stronger since 2nd February 1862 as the troop under the command of brigadier general Grant was moving at a fast rate. Rapidly, the troop under the command of General Grant occupied the whole area of Fort Henry. This very incident provided the whole situation of Civil War with a new dimension. (Donovan, Greiss, 29-31)       The American Civil War has created a huge impact over the common human psyche as it created a great deal of impact though its magnitude of destruction as well as mass killing. Gray W. Gallagher comments, “Three million men served in the Union and Confederate armies, the majority of whom enlisted during the first two years of the war.” (Gallagher, 70) Soldiers have both side had their separate reflection over the about the actual status of the nation. According to the Union soldiers, it was their primary aim to secure independence for them. They clearly said behind the development of the America their native predecessors have contributed to the greatest. Thus, the soldiers of the Union expressed their opinion as free children of the nation and it is their onus to save the nation from all those who will attempt to snatch away the freedom and liberty of the common people. On the other hand the Confederates have expressed their opinion that as the responsibility of developing America is rested over them that is why it is important to fight against all those who are against such development. Finally, it has become a battle of democracy against the tyrannical system. There are several examples that the soldiers also have described the main aim of the war, “Just before the battle of Chancellorsville, a member of the 44th Virginia Infantry described the conflict as ‘a struggle between Liberty on one side, and Tyranny on the other’ and vowed to uphold the ‘holy cause of Southern freedom.” (Gallagher, 70) Citing such examples it becomes clear though troops of both the parties were not organized or efficient enough or they did not receive a proper leadership from their commanders but there was no lack of motivation among them. They fought and died in the battle with the belief that they are sacrificing their lives for certain noble causes. Post Civil War Period (1865 onwards): The year 1865 characterized the end of the civil war and the tremendous mass destruction that the whole nation faces during the span of four years. However, the economic and loss of lives that people faced during this period of time could not be compensated for a further longer period. It became essentially important at that point of time to come up with such ideas that would revive the society as soon as possible. Though the war ended formally but the undercurrent of tension was always there as the Confederates could not accept their defeat in the hands of the Union troop. It became increasingly important for the president to come up with peacemaking policies so that both parties will provide their best effort to develop both the social and economic foundation of the nation. On one hand the slaves were ready to take revenge of the torture and brutal treatment that they had to face for such a long time. On the other hand residents of the southern part of America were scared that any moment they might either be murdered or they will be thrown out of their houses. Thus, President Lincoln was left with no other option except to come up with the abolition policy of slavery. It was during this time, with the active effort of the president with the help of the congress, the slavery system was permanently abolished from the social system of U.S. Though the approach of the white people towards people belonging to the Afro American community did not change much but it was definitely a great achievement for the slaves. All these days they did undergo a lot of sacrifices only to receive the confirmation of the State that they are free men and just like their white counterparts, they also have equal rights to enjoy the nation and its facilities to the fullest extent.       In addition to the massive change it also became important to put forth certain other changes as well with the purpose of accelerating the financial stability of the nation. Heather Cox Richardson comments in the book, West from Appomattox, “Although questions about the relationship between the government and its citizens were hardly new in 1865, one thing made the post- Civil War years critical for American identity: during the war … for the first time in American history, Congress had imposed national taxes. After the war, individuals – taxpayers – had a new and powerful interest in their government and were concerned about who should be able to vote about how their money was spent.” (Richardson, 2) During the reconstruction of America in the post war phase such development becomes extremely important as people became more politically conscious and such consciousness also helped to inculcate such morality among the political leaders that they have become well aware about their duties as well as they also learnt to utilize the money properly for the national welfare. In the era of reconstruction of the post Civil War situation, the most positive aspect came in the form of providing additional importance to the common people of the nation. Shifting of voting rights in the hand of the general people actually led to enhancement of consciousness as well as better understanding of the citizens about development of the nation. However the elements of racism and differentiation in term of labor still remain as we find in Ashley’s birthday party where the ‘Negroes’ were doing the menial work. (Mitchell) Effects of the Civil War: Not only in the history of America but in the international history also has the ill effects of the Civil War are often been cited to show to which extent a war can create havoc over different aspects of a nation. The American Civil war was not only a giant clash between the troops of the Northern and Southern part of the nation but it also exhibited the problems of racism and discrimination in the society. The main cause behind the occurrence of the civil war was that the slaves, since the 1820s became aware about their rights and they were also calming for their equal social right with that of the white people. But the main problem was that it was almost impossible for the white people to look at the Afro American people with the same dignity level as they provided them with also. At the end of the civil war, though the black people received recognition of the state as human beings but a deep scar was created among both these communities that took a long time to be erased. The undercurrent of such discrimination is still there in the society but it has changed its form of expression. At the same time the great financial as well as loss of life both the parties faced that contributed to a great extent in the proper development of the nation. The civil war not only took people of a particular age group within its scope but several elderly, common people even boys aged from 12-14 also died randomly. Civil war, in this context, is one of the most horrid examples of such incidents that humanity can ever face. It is due to such pervasive effect of the civil war that it still occupies a very special place in the films, music and literature of U.S. Such is the appeal of the war over human psyche that imagistic representation of the war and the destruction caused by it has recurred in different forms of American Art. Even the artists of the modern era have remained equally affected due to the physic and mythical impact of the war.       While pondering over the ill effects of the civil war over economy and society of the America, it seems that economic losses have been compensated adequately but the emotional harm that has been caused over the general psyche, has remained irreparably damaged. Many lost their dear ones. The clear line of discrimination that has been formed between people and also created class distinction could not be compensated. Even in the modern society, the germ of the same discrimination has existed among general section. The civil war, on many occasions, is still the sole determining factor of social status and prestige of individuals. Moreover, the clear gap between people belonging to original American ethnic background and people belonging to the Afro American ethnicity has still remained. Though the mark has been blurred but the mentality, that people belonging to each group is meant for opposing each other, actually developed since the time of the Civil War era. Looking at the modern social condition it seems that such marks of distinction will always be there and in this context, it can be said that huge loss of potent life as well as permanent distinction between two races are the worst effects that the American Civil War has cast over the common psyche.  The change of psyche and the economic conditions are both reflected in the fact that Scarlett had to close the sawmills which used to be her pride. She had to sell them to Ashley at a low price. But the war a thing of pride to the southerners and this is reflected as the author mentions about the meeting of the ex-Confederates who ‘talked of the war with so much relish, with pride, with nostalgia’. (Mitchell) Works Cited: 1. Grimsted, David, American Mobbing, 1828-1861: Toward Civil War, Oxford University Press US, 1998 http://books.google.co.in/books?id=22SsdNkqd3oC&dq=American+Mobbing,+1828-1861:+Toward+Civil+War&printsec=frontcover&source=bl&ots=uufMn4yJ-z&sig=lHGJY0J3TQRH0-kYDQcAU_kFcf0&hl=en&ei=FN8nSq-LJsqLkAXa_PGrBw&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=1 2. Gallagher, Gary W., The American Civil War: the war in the East 1861 - May 1863, Osprey Publishing, 2001 http://books.google.co.in/books?id=OKUvcBMZ4y8C&pg=PA7&lpg=PA7&dq=The+American+Civil+War:+the+war+in+the+East+1861+-+May+1863&source=bl&ots=SYUziFgTHD&sig=1DmnxNKO0QbJuQo0ynUWdILYUUQ&hl=en&ei=RN8nSt7-GIrs7AO3ld2jBg&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=1 3. Greiss, Thomas E., Donovan, Timothy H., The American Civil War, Square One Publishers, Inc., 2002 http://books.google.co.in/books?id=0469CCIGijgC&pg=PP1&dq=The+American+Civil+War&ei=YN8nSpPyFKrKkQSYnMT2Cg 4. Mitchell, Margaret, Gone with the Wind, The Macmillan Company, 1936 5. Richardson, Heather Cox, West from Appomattox: the reconstruction of America after the Civil War, Yale University Press, 2007 http://books.google.co.in/books?id=_XhkLzEijnYC&printsec=frontcover&dq=West+from+Appomattox:+the+reconstruction+of+America+after+the+Civil+War,&ei=gd8nSubNPJTOkwTY4oXiCg Read More