AmericanCivil War
Causescivil war
The primary cause of America Civil War was the issue of slavery. The northern states were determined to end slavery, but the southern states opposed (Foner 12).
Since the states of the south economy relied on agriculture, slaves were essential to them. They provided cheap labor for cotton and tobacco production.
In the year 1861, slavery was completely embedded in state rights and the south perceived it their culture.
The first year slaves were brought in America was 1619 (Foner 54). It was not going to be easy changing a practice that had existed for almost two hundred and fifty years.
Despite the resistant to change, slavery was eventually abolished after the war. Other causes of this civil war were issues of authority, sectionalism, protectionism and state rights.
Whathappened in the civil war?
The Union received secessions from seven slave states. They evidently withdrew because they opposed abolition. However, not all slave states yielded to calls for secession.
During this period of civil war, Abraham Lincoln was the president (Foner 61). He stated that he did not have the power to interfere with the institution of slavery where it existed. Regardless of this statement, Confederates proceeded to seize several federal forts.
This act signaled both sides to prepare for war since a compromise had failed to work. Confederates expected European countries to intervene since they relied on cotton (Foner 74).
Despite the expectations, none of these nations supported the Confederates.
Resultfrom civil war
The aftermath of the war was devastating. The civil war became the greatest war ever fought in America history. Casualties surpassed those in WW I and WW II combined.
The war left about 620,000 to 750,000 soldiers dead (Foner 69). The southern economy and infrastructure were also destroyed. The Union won the war, which left the Confederacy to collapse.
The only positive thing that may have come from this war was complete abolition. All slaves were set free and granted civil rights.
Since the Reconstruction Era had overlapped and followed the war, it played a significant role in restoring national unity. It also strengthened the federal government (Foner 89).
Unionand Confederation civil war
The civil war combat was between the Union versus Confederates. The Confederates began attacking forts. Among them was Fort Sumter in Charleston.
President Lincoln instructed Major Anderson to hold possession until they begin receiving fire. The following day, Anderson surrendered (Foner 37).
The attack motivated the North to defend American nationalism. Since this incident, the war was characterized by a frequency of battles.
In the four years of war, about 237 battles were fought (Foner 80). The civil war seemed to prove a situation where the only target was an enemy soldier. There were no geographic objectives.
Lincolncivil war
President Lincoln had a significant role in this war. Considering that the Confederacy had rejected diplomacy and compromise, the president resorted to combat.
Although he clearly mentioned he could not interfere with slavery where it existed, he was stern in protecting federal property. Therefore, he deployed forces where necessary (Foner 44).
President Lincoln’s aim was to win the war and restore nationalism. The president won this war because of his strategies and diplomacy. He knew how to choose generals and command troops wisely.
After the war, victims such as orphans, widows, and others were compensated. Institutions such as the banking systems were re-built. Eventually, the nation began working towards development and growth (Foner 48).
Workscited:
Foner,Eric. GiveMe Liberty!: An American History.New York: W.W. Norton & Co, 2014. Print.