Henry Bogardus United States Comparison: The Civil War

The Civil War highlighted every aspect between the northern and southern states that was different. The Union and Confederacy had unchangeable views on politics, slavery, social classes, and means of economic achievement, thus caused constant friction amongst the divided nation. Since both the North and South would passionately stand by their beliefs, the Civil War would be inevitable due to the persistent patriotism each state had for their side of the United States. The South believed in state’s rights, supported slavery, had established the gentry class, and sustained the economy through agriculture, while the North believed in the country’s rights, was against slavery, had a strong middle class, and relied on industries for money. These differences were the main cause of the Civil War because northerners and southerners could not compromise with the one other without breaking away from their lifestyles.

In Henry Bogardus’ article, “United States Comparison - Civil War”, the author discussed how the sections of the nation’s differences contributed to the war: “The civil war’s driving cause was that the two opposing ideologies that represented northern and southern difference had grown to a point where the south had announced its secession from the union.” (Vanderbilt University).

This meant the North and South would always have had their differences, and at the time, the states did not know how to handle the competition between each other. Resulting in secession and war, the United States has since then learn how to compromise. The Civil War was unavoidable because every American citizen was different, and the country needed a way to handle those differences. The outcome might have been a brutal war of brother against brother, but if the Civil War had not happened then it would have sometime because humans are humans. The country can now look back and move forward because we gained the experience to embrace each other's differences rather than to fight

them.
I believe in this situation war could not have been avoided because the issues that faced North and South were too far evolved to turn back. If I was president during this time, I would try to get everyone to see the solution to this war is compromise. Like President Lincoln, I would give several proclamations declaring equality amongst all citizens. Communication is key, and if the citizens see the president trying there is at least some hope. The South was angered by the abolishment of slavery, so I would give them some compensation to recuperate from the dramatic dip in the economy, as long as they followed the proclamation. Making both the Union and Confederacy realize they need each other for the economy to work, would be another strategy because in reality both sides are dependent on the other’s skills. The Civil War was an awful war because Americans fought against Americans, so limiting their harm to each other would be key because the aftermath was the worst part.