THE CIVIL WAR

Andro Hannoush History 111-4 12/12/12 Professor Smith In 1861, after many years of conflicts between southern

and northern United States about issues regarding states vs. federal authority, the growth of slavery boomed in the era. Republican President Abraham Lincoln was anti-slavery and when elected to presidency in 1960, 7 southern states secede from the union, which formed the confederate states. 4 other states joined the confederacy at the beginning of the war. 4 years of war changed so much in American history and it made amazing battles at Bull Run, Antietam, Gettysburg, Vicksburg, and many others. One great nation going to war with each other is like brother against brother. The confederates ended up surrendering in 1865. 2.4 million soldiers fought in this war, and 620,000 soldiers died. We remained one nation with no slavery. This was one of the most historic wars.

There were many causes for the north vs. south war. Some of these causes include economic and social differences, federal rights, slavery, and the election of 1860. The northern states were based on industry and cared more for the city. Opposed to the southern states, which became a one-crop economy because of the invention of the cotton gin. This led to the conflict of unfair taxation, the north forced the south to buy goods from them but because of federal laws these goods had high taxes on them because

they were imported from Europe. Because of these conflicts about taxes, it led to the states vs. federal rights argument. As the southern states angered about the unfair taxation the federal laws put on, they believed states had the rights to nullify these passed laws. The northern states disagreed because they felt if the southern states become independent then it would hurt the country and it would weaken them. Slavery was a main point in the start of the civil war. Northerners usually opposed slavery and helped in their escape opposed to the south, which wanted slavery and felt that the northerners needed to keep their opinions to their selves because they would be out of money without slaves. The election of Anti-slavery President Abraham Lincoln, brought fury to the southerners who now wanted to withdraw themselves from the country.

The civil war started on April 12, 1961 in South Carolina, the union forces had control of Fort Sumter when the confederates shot at them, which led in a brawl for many, many hours. The confederates came out strong when the union had to evacuate the fort. After the evacuation President Abraham Lincoln issued a proclamation for 75,000 soldiers to end the southern violence. There were many battles of the civil war but some standing out much. The

first battle of Bulls Run was a major battle that occurred. The Union believed that the civil war was going to be an easy victory and believed that they were going to sweep the confederates away but because of this battle it proved that its going to be a long bloody war. The battle of Antietam was a significant battle because General Lee decided to withdraw from the battle, and the union clinched a victory. President Abraham Lincoln issued the emancipation proclamation, which proclaimed that all slaves in the confederacy to be freed. Another important battle was the battle of Vicksburg, Which was a huge decisive event that occurred. This Battle split the confederacy in two, which also hurt them in the east and brought a great victory to the unions. The Battle of Gettysburg took place in 1863 when General Lee marched the army to Gettysburg and with his victory it became clear of the North's power it had over the south which overall predicted the end of the war.

The Civil War changed everyday life in the United States. With many injured soldiers, people's homes, churches, and businesses were used as hospitals and a place to keep the injured soldiers while they recovered. With the south being hit the hardest it caused crops to go bad, and it caused a shortage of food. Women played an important

role in the war. Now they were on the front lines cooking, caring for injured soldiers, and making uniforms. Families became split and the girls did the jobs for the men while they fought in the war. It was hard living in that time era. This time period brought a rise to the photographers and combats artists, who began to record the war and brought the people the first up close photographs of the war from the soldiers view. Many cities were destroyed and people had to evacuate their houses to find new places to live. Slaves were taken out of their regular routines and were put on the lines to fight.

In 1865 the Civil War ended. The same year President Abraham Lincoln was assassinated, which brought President Andrew Johnson into the white house. The Confederate Army surrendered and over 600,000 people died from the war. Many plantation industries were destroyed and people lost their homes and businesses. Sharecropping began and in January of 1865 the Thirteenth Amendment was passed abolishing all slavery in the United States. Millions of slaves were set free. These slaves were now changing their names, changing the way they dress, and moving to new places where protection was being offered from the federal troops. The Freedmen's Bureau was created which helped former slaves

gather supplies, educating slaves by putting them in schools, and find paying jobs. Many whites opposed this and started groups against it such as the Ku Klux Klan, to scare African-Americans. Everyone began rebuilding after the war or the "reconstruction". After the last of the confederate troops left the south reconstruction was finally put to an end in 1877. Because of the different views from the north and the south the Civil War had a lasting impact on American history, which changed many people's lives. The Civil War is one of the greatest wars fought on American soil.