The Impact of the Civil War on the United States
1. The Causes of the Divide Between the North and South
There were several pressing issues which brought about the divide between the North and the South, they mostly touched on slavery. The question of whether or not to allow slavery in new territories was a major source of contention between the two sides. The industrial economy in the North was powered by skilled and unskilled laborers while the agricultural economy in the South was dependent on slave labor. This created a divide in interests between the North and South. Cities in the North were growing rapidly and there was a need for more labor to power the factories and businesses. Farms in the South needed cheap labor to pick cotton and tobacco.
2. The Issue of Slavery
The issue of slavery was a major cause of the divide between the North and South. The question of whether or not to allow slavery in new territories was a major source of contention between the two sides. The industrial economy in the North was powered by skilled and unskilled laborers while the agricultural economy in the South was dependent on slave labor. This created a divide in interests between the North and South. Cities in the North were growing rapidly and there was a need for more labor to power the factories and businesses. Farms in the South needed cheap labor to pick cotton and tobacco.
The Emancipation Proclamation and the Thirteenth Amendment outlawed slavery, but it did not end discrimination against blacks. In some states, blacks were not allowed to vote, hold office, or serve on juries. Segregation laws were passed that separated blacks from whites in public places such as schools, restaurants, hotels, parks, and bathrooms. Blacks were also paid lower wages than whites for doing the same job.
3. The Emancipation Proclamation and the Thirteenth Amendment
The Emancipation Proclamation freed all slaves in areas controlled by Confederate forces. It did not free slaves in Union-controlled areas. The Thirteenth Amendment to the Constitution abolished slavery throughout the United States.
4. The Civil War
The Civil War began on April 12, 1861, when Confederate forces attacked a U.S. military installation at Fort Sumter in South Carolina. The war ended on April 9, 1865, when Confederate General Robert E. Lee surrendered at Appomattox Court House in Virginia. About 620,000 men died in the Civil War, making it one of the deadliest conflicts in American history.
5. Reconstruction
After the Civil War, Reconstruction policies were enacted to rebuild the South and ensure civil rights for African Americans.
The Civil War was a turning point in the history of the United States. The war began as a conflict over states’ rights and ended with the complete abolition of slavery and the reunification of the country. The war also resulted in massive changes in the social, economic, and political landscape of the United States.