The American civil war, which stated in 1862 and ended in1865, is one of the bloodiest civil wars waged on this earth (Porter, 1976). There were many issues at play leading to the war but slavery was the key concern. The war happened because of economical, political and cultural differences between the Northern states and the Southern states.
The two regions had different economical foundations i.e. the north was industrialized and the southern states were dominantly agrarian. The strife, which resulted to the war, emanated from various political, economic and social issues, which informed the decisions by leaders from these regions. This essay will evaluate in details what exactly caused the terrible war and its aftermath.
Fellman et al (2002), point at slavery as the main reason that provoked strife between the two regions. In the late 1970s to 1860s, slavery was the norm in most of the Southern states. Slaves supplied adequate labor that helped flourish the cotton industry. White-Americans perceived the African-Americans (slaves) as mere objects; this mistaken perception led to African Americans being exploited and mistreated (Porter, 1976).
On the other hand, the industrialized northern states believed slavery was incorrect and that the African-Americans, like any other human being, are entitled to dignity and respect. The conflict between the two regions kindled tension, which later turned out to be the worst war fought on American soil.
Apart from slavery, economic differences and thus different economic aspirations between the south and the north led to the emergency of sectionalism. The impacts of sectionalism were deeply rooted and widely spread. This kind of problem became more apparent in 1787 through debate on a new constitution (Catton, 2004).
The southerners felt that the economically stable Northern states were prejudiced against the southern states given racism was prevalent in the northern states as well. Majority of the Northern states allowed for discrimination against the blacks; actually, only four northern states allowed blacks to vote. Negroes, as black Americans were called in the northern states, were subjected to threats of eviction from some states. In addition, blacks were not allowed to serve in certain posts especially the jury in all states (Catton, 2004).
The debate on whether to maintain slavery or not led to the southern states declaring succession. According to Catton (2004), the withdrawal by these states was interpreted by Buchanan, outgoing president, and Lincoln, the president elect, as an act of rebellion against the Union. The succession was a calculated move because majority of the southern states were against the Republican Party, which had won an election and Lincoln was promising to abolish expansion of slavery.
Both the incoming president (Abraham Lincoln)) and the outgoing president (James Buchanan) labeled the succession as an act of rebellion. It is also worth noting that some slave states refused to back the withdrawal from the Union. Later four more states joined the succession, prompting President Lincoln to declare war against slave trade in the southern states. This declaration aroused an atmosphere full of contempt and suspicion among the southern states.
The other cause of the civil war was due to the unstable allegiance to nationalism belief by the southern states. The southern states were torn between accepting the Union and rejecting it. The southern states upheld their religious ideologies and rationalized their institutions and judicial system (Carter et al, 2003). When the crisis arose, the southerners decided to fight rather than denounce their religious beliefs for nationalism, which was perceived as a northern principle.
Fellman et al (2002), suggest that the civil war can also be attributed to misinterpretation of the State’s right. The southern citizens believed each individual had the right to transfer his/her property to any part of the US without any restriction. Since the rich southern farmers perceived slaves as property, the property rights also applied to them.
However, the northern counterparts refuted this “right” because it would contravene with their stand of abolishing slavery within America. President Buchanan who was opposed to the slave trade believed that the southern interpretation of the right was misplaced and erroneous.
The Civil war caused much damage to the US and the American people at large. For instance, very many people died i.e. soldiers and civilians alike. Although the North won against the south, about ten percent of youthful males from the northern states died in the war.
On a positive note, the civil war helped end the slave trade that had turned black Americans into mere commodities. In 1865, all the slaves were declared free. Later, the US embarked on the post war reconstruction to stabilize the country’s economy and unify the northern states and the southern states (Blair, 2006).
The civil war is the worst war fought on the American soil. Although, there are many causes that have been posited to explain the war, none is enough to account for such a horrendous ordeal. Although one cannot single out a conclusive cause of the war, the Civil war acted as an example of how minor issues can trigger massive bloodshed.
The 1960s census indicated that about three percent of the total American population succumbed to the war and a lot of property was destroyed. This was generally unnecessary. However, despite the negative consequences of the civil war, slave trade was eventually abolished and America has since then, gradually, developed to enjoy enhanced internal peace and cohesion.
Reference List
Blair, J. E. (2006). The Essential Civil War: A Handbook to the Battles. Westport: Greenwood Publishing Inc.
Carter, A. E., Jensen, R. J. & Thomas, W. G. (2003). The Civil War on the Web. California: American Library Association.
Catton, B. & McPherson, J. M. (2004). The Civil War, American Heritage. New York: American Heritage Inc.
Fellman, M., Gordon, J. L. & Sutherland, D. E. (2002). The Terrible War and Its Aftermath. Michigan: Longman
Porter, D. M. (1976). The Impending Crisis. Michigan: Harper & Row Press