The Civil War: Then and Now

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The Civil War: Then and Now The Civil War that occurred was one of the darkest times in our history as a country. It was a time where there was a complete breakdown of social and political systems. Hundreds of thousands were killed and hundreds of thousands more were aversely affected. However, it was also a time of remembrance and significant moral progress. It is remembered as the turning point in American History and would be the foundation for the Civil Rights movement many years later. There are many reasons why the Civil War started. Some experts claim that it was built up tension between the North and South states. Others claim that it was a social clash between slave-owners and abolitionists. What is certain, however, is that slavery was the main issue and the issue that ignited the fuse that led to blood and devastation. In whatever way from whatever perspective, slavery was the primary issue at hand and would be decided by the outcome of the war (Foner, “The Civil War”). The Civil War not only threatened slavery it also threatened the South and their way of life. They were plantation owners and they were cotton growers. Their very existence, and livelihood depended on the labor of African Americans. They had established a culture of the dominance of the White Man over the African Americans. Ever since the Southerners had first colonized the Americas they had been depending on the free labor and felt that they could not adequately function without it. (CITATION) The South was essentially a country within a country. The thirteen colonies had banded together to face a common enemy: The British oppressors. After the American Revolutionary war they found that they had little in common besides wanting Independence. Due to ... ... middle of paper ... ... be seen. The Civil War is one of the turning points in the history of the United States. It was a time when our country was at its lowest point. This event redefined what it means to be an American and even redefined the culture as to how slavery was viewed both morally and politically. It took much sacrifice to pass through this event. It was estimated that more than 750,000 lives were lost in this struggle. At the time this would be an almost entire generation of men that were gone forever. So why is the Civil War so celebrated in reenactments and shows? (McCurry) The reason is that it marked a new way of living. It marked a new age for those who had previously been enslaved. It showed the world that the United State was a country that believed no one is a master of anyone else. It showed that the United States was a country where all men were created equal.

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