Between 1861 and 1865, the United States was engulfed in the Civil War, one of the most devastating events in the country’s history. This conflict differed from others, as it divided the nation and was based on the internal issues of freedom, ownership, and the value of human life. It was a war that changed the course of America’s politics for centuries to come.
The Civil War has many unique features that distinguish it from other conflicts involving the US. First, it was a military conflict that primarily happened within the nation’s borders. Prior to this war, American soldiers participated in military action overseas, leading their armies to foreign countries to support or influence other governments. In contrast, the Civil War’s battles occurred in the United States, particularly in the Northeastern region.
The second difference in the Revolutionary War was the use of new weapons that changed the tactics on both sides. Soldiers were equipped with Gatling guns, loaded mini balls into their muskets, and traveled in ironclad ships (Yadollahi, 2021, p. 123). The use of new weaponry affected the war’s course, making it more lethal. As a result, the increased casualty numbers appeared on both sides, creating a significant ripple effect in the country’s population.
Finally, the third unique feature of the Civil War lay in its political, economic, and social impact on the country. As a conflict based on slavery and human rights, its resolution expanded the number of American citizens and paved the way for African-American integration. Political parties, economic relations between workers and farmers, and other parts of daily lives changed after the war.
The Civil War’s outcomes formed the future of the country. As a result of the conflict, slavery was officially abolished. According to the newly added 14th Amendment, Black people brought to the country as slaves gained the right to become citizens (Diffley & Hutchison, 2022, p. 63). The addition of this law also led to the formation of a stronger federal government. Another outcome that affected the future of the country was the period of Reconstruction, the goal of which was to rebuild the country’s economy and social life (Bigelow, 2019, p. 211). This era was formational in establishing the United States and its history.
The Reconstruction can be divided into two main parts: Presidential and Radical (or Congressional) Reconstruction. President Abraham Lincoln initiated the first phase and aimed to rebuild the nation’s unity as quickly as possible. The two primary goals were restoring the Southern states as parts of the country, as they lost in opposition to the Union, and providing a structure for Black people’s integration and civil rights (Diffley & Hutchison, 2022, p. 96). Lincoln also aimed to improve the infrastructure in the country, building communication and transportation systems that connected the North and the South.
Congress initiated the second phase of Reconstruction, which took on legal changes to the government. First, Congress worked to judge the participants of the Civil War who were responsible for crimes and unjust actions. Second, the government body focused on giving Black Americans their rights as citizens. As newly freed people, they could vote and participate in the government, which gave them a new political voice (Diffley & Hutchison, 2022, p. 142). Reconstruction was a successful endeavor, and the country was reunited. However, many issues remained unresolved, and racism, Jim Crow laws, and other problems plagued the community.
In conclusion, the Civil War was a significant conflict that changed the history of America. It was a conflict fought on US soil with modern weapons, and its goals were rooted in local social, political, and economic issues. The outcome of the war brought many changes that continue to shape the country to this day. Black people officially became Americans, although their rights would be disputed for decades after the war. The political and economic systems were restored during Reconstruction, but the nation’s social structure took a new shape.
References
Bigelow, B. C. (2019). Oliver P. Morton and the Politics of Civil War and Reconstruction by James Fuller. Middle West Review, 5(2), 210-213. Web.
Diffley, K., & Hutchison, C. (2022). The Cambridge Companion to the literature of the American Civil War and Reconstruction. Cambridge University Press.
Yadollahi, S. (2021). A study of new military technologies and their use in the American Civil War (1861-1865). Historical Study of War, 4(4), 121-143.