Introduction
Slave ownership was a major political concern in the United States during the nineteenth century. The Civil War was the culmination of decades of political upheaval over enslavement. The American Civil War is a pivotal period in the country’s history that continues to elicit cultural and historical discussion. The purpose of the following Reconstruction period was to abolish slavery, allow all Americans to live in peace, and ensure the protection of newly liberated slaves. American history textbooks played a vital role in forming society’s opinion since information and facts varied significantly.
The significance of the Civil War and Reconstruction
The American Civil War was a battle between the Union and the Confederacy in the United States of America. Slavery’s position, particularly its extension into areas obtained in the Louisiana Purchase and the Mexican-American War, was the fundamental reason for the conflict. Prior to the American Civil War, the period of Reconstruction was a part of American history. In general, it spanned from 1866 through 1877 and was a defining moment in the United States of America’s civil and human rights development (Loewen 334). In terms of the significance of the Civil War and Reconstruction, the recovery of the Union, reform of southern states, and implementation of progressive legislation promoting the rights of formerly enslaved people were all part of these processes. Reconstruction was the time in which efforts were made to rectify the inequalities of enslavement and its governmental, social, and financial consequences, as well as to resolve the issues that arose from the Union’s reintegration. The Civil War’s outcome protected the United States of America as a single entity. It required an end to the practice of slavery, which had split the nation from its inception.
African Americans in ending slavery and rebuilding the nation
Concerning the role that African Americans played in ending slavery and rebuilding the nation, it is feasible to state that a transformation in the social participation of these people emerged. The United States of America’s Constitution was amended to guarantee all adult male citizens’ right to vote, regardless of race or prior slavery. African Americans became active in the political procedures and decisions as electors and participants and as municipal, regional, and central government officials and civil servants. African American soldiers had received permission for citizenship for their whole race in the United States due to their devotion, contribution, and usefulness throughout the conflict. Thus, it is possible to note that African Americans were able to fight the negative aspects and features of the end of slavery as citizens due to the Civil War and Reconstruction. Then, they became capable of being employed to assist in developing the country’s economy.
American history textbooks’ interpretation
Discussing how American history textbooks have portrayed issues of racism and anti-racism during the Civil War era and beyond, it can be stated that many inconsistencies with real events occurred. Today’s modern textbooks have considerably improved their presentation of Reconstruction since the 1960s (Loewen 157). Except for four of the eighteen books examined by the researchers, every one depicts Reconstruction and the Civil War in a significantly different manner (Loewen 157). For instance, Until the 1990s, American historical sources continued to portray the end of Reconstruction as an African-American tragedy (Loewen 160).
Nowadays, authors recognize that army control was abolished in all three states by 1868 (Loewen 157). History textbooks of the United States of America no longer claim that permitting African American males to vote unleashed a wave of thievery and corruption (Loewen 157). Most textbooks’ revised perspective on Reconstruction, as their handling of slavery, is long overdue, far closer to what the historical evidence for the time discloses, and much less interpreted by white supremacy (Loewen 158). Hence, it can be concluded that the fact of manipulating historical events during the Civil War and Reconstruction period was proven.
It is essential to emphasize the relationship between the representation of the historical events during the Civil War period and the issue of racism. School textbooks will not be capable of assessing racial relations sensibly in the twenty-first century as long as they render white racism undetectable in the twentieth century (Loewen 171). Since values and ideas encompassed a large part of the Civil War, American history publications present an unclear picture of the conflict (Loewen 173). Abolitionism is treated without much idealism in literature, as enslavement is treated without racism (Loewen 173). Therefore, American history textbooks have portrayed issues of racism and anti-racism controversially, leading to misunderstandings in comprehension by people.
Conclusion
To summarize, the recovery of the Union, reform of southern states, and enactment of progressive legislation protecting the rights of former slaves were all part of the Civil War and Reconstruction’s significance. The resolution of the Civil War preserved the United States of America as a unified entity and demanded an end to slavery, which had divided the country from its founding. African Americans were involved in political processes and choices as voters and participants and as officials and city employees in local, regional, and federal governments. It can be inferred that historical events were manipulated during the Civil War and Reconstruction periods. In the United States of America, history textbooks no longer assume that allowing African American males to vote sparked a wave of crime and corruption. People’s knowledge of racism and anti-racism has been muddled by disputed portrayals of the themes in American history textbooks.
Work Cited
Loewen, James. Lies My Teacher Told Me: Everything Your American History Textbook Got Wrong. The New Press, 2018.