Civil War and Reconstruction (Essay Sample)

Student Name Professor Name Course Due Date Civil War and Reconstruction - 1848-1877 The Civil War and its aftermath have been examined widely by historians, and two issues were identified from these scholars' studies. The first question centers on the causes of the war and whether the North and the South were bound to be in a division. The second question centers on the alterations caused by the war and Reconstruction and the continuing influence on American society. These issues are the sources of debates as critical topics such as the abolition of slavery and the transformation of old practices in society and politics are involved. One of the contending issues surrounding the beginning of the Civil War was whether the war was supposed to happen or not because of the insurmountable division between the North and the South. In a well-renowned speech in 1858, Abraham Lincoln articulated, “I believe this government cannot endure, permanently half slave and half free." This statement indicates the increasing divisions between the North, which wanted abolitionism, and the South, which was obsessed with keeping the institution of slavery. Such a gap was even further enhanced by the fact of new territories in which the North was against the spread of slavery while the South was in favor of it (Annenberg Learner “The Coming of the Civil War”). Generally, these indispensable distinctions show that a war was inevitable and peaceful separation was impossible. The sectionalism issue was more pronounced than only differences in economic systems. Indeed, there were significant cultural and political divergences between North and South. Slavery was more than just a system of economic production; it was a Southern way of life, and many white Southerners saw it as an integral part of the overall social hierarchy. The anxiety additionally strengthened this belief that their way of existence and status quo would be lost if slavery were to be eradicated (Annenberg Learner “Reconstruction”). Conversely, the growing Northern population, along with an increasing number of outspoken abolitionists, contributed to the rising opposition against slavery. These cultural and political differences could only work like a match, which flicked the sectional divide and caused a conflict. Additionally, as the issue of slavery got involved in other sectional conflicts and became more politicized, the fate of the Civil War became nearly imminent. The Civil War and its aftermath paved the way for dramatic events in the country, with the most influential effect being the eradication of slavery. Nevertheless, emancipation was not just removing slavery; it was a great deal and permeated American society throughout its life. War confronted long and longstanding notions of social and political practices, such as racial and gender hierarchies. With the Emancipation Proclamation and the 13th, 14th, and 15th Amendments to the Constitution, the slavery of African Americans was ended, ...