The American Civil War

Brief Overview 1861-1865 Resolved two fundamental questions; o Whether USA would be a dissolvable confederation of sovereigns or an indivisible nation with a sovereign national government o If the nation, born with a declaration that all men were created with an equal right to liberty, would continue to exist as the largest slaveholding country in the world. Brought America a new birth of freedom President Abraham Lincoln o During war began nations efforts to end slavery and define the meaning of freedom. The end of the war appeared to bring changes in the South with Reconstruction o Redefinition of blacks in America Mass armies confronted each other on battlefield- casualties dwarfed anything in American experience o Weapons created by industrial revolution o 650 000 men died 260 000 Confederates o (>1/5th of Souths white male population)

History of Slavery in America 1619 beginning of slavery in America o First African slaves o North American colony of Jamestown, Virginia o Production of crops e.g. tobacco th 17 -18th centuries American colonies practiced slavery o African-American helped build nations economic foundations 1793 invention of cotton gin th Mid-19 century slavery debated o Americas westward expansion o Growing abolition movement in north 1861-65 American Civil War o Union victory freed all 4 million slaves in America o Slavery legacy continued to influence American history 1865-77 Reconstruction 19602 civil rights movement o Century after emancipation

Reconstruction Controversial era American history

First experimentation of interracial democracy Northern victory in Civil War posed problems; o How to reunite nation? o What system of labour would replace slavery? o What status would former slaves take? Former slaves made active effort to shape Reconstruction o Claimed rights as citizens Republican Congress enacted laws and Constitutional amendments enforced by federal government o Equal rights o Black Southerners right to vote, hold office New Southern government o Confront Klu Klux Klans violent opposition Over time north abandoned commitment to protect rights of former slaves o Reconstruction ended o White supremacy restored in south Seen as a period of corruption, misgovernment o Supposedly caused by allowing blacks to take part in politics Excuse to justify Souths system of racial segregation/denying black vote which lasted until 1960s Time of; o Genuine progress for former slaves and the South as a whole o Fundamental social, economic, political change o Overthrow of Reconstruction left future generations problem of racial justice

http://www.digitalhistory.uh.edu/exhibits/reconstruction/introduction.html Black and White Responses to the End of Slavery Confederate defeat & end of slavery o Far reaching changes in lives of all Southerners Conflict o Blacks- trying to use newly found freedom by asserting independence from white control o Whites- tried to keep as much of the old order as possible o In South meaning of freedom itself conflicted Former slaves flaunted liberation from the countless regulations of slavery Reuniting families separated under slavery Established own churches, schools Wanted economic autonomy Demanded equal civil, political rights White southerners reacted with dismay o Loss of loved ones o Thought of leaving south

o Nostalgia for Old South, Lost Cause of the Confederacy o Many unwilling to accept a new relationship to former slaves Violent opposition to the new world being created around them Lincoln administration insisted restoring Union was wars only purpose 1000s of slaves abandoned their work, headed to union lines Military victory escaped the north and they changed their ideas o Destruction of slavery war aim o Announced in Emancipation Proclamation of January 1893 Also authorised enlistment of black soldiers End of war 200 000 black soldiers served in Union army and navy o Wanting a claim to citizenship in the post-war nation o