Graduation Speech: The American Civil War

The name Civil War is misleading because the war was not a class struggle, but a sectional combat, having its roots in political, economic, social, and psychological elements. It has been characterized, in the words of William H. Seward, as the “irrepressible conflict.” In another judgment the Civil War was viewed as criminally stupid, an unnecessary bloodletting brought on by arrogant extremists and blundering politicians. Both views accept the fact that in 1861 there existed a situation that, rightly or wrongly, had come to be regarded as insoluble by peaceful means.

The aftermath of the Civil War shook the nation. A new way of life was beginning for the people of America. A way of life that was beautiful and free to some and absolutely devastating to the rest. The country had changed and nobody did a better job at documenting this change than the authors. The authors used this new world to explore new and unique stories as well as capturing what it was actually like living in the post-Civil War times. This paper will examine post-Civil War Literature and its importance to documenting this period in history.

Fighting a war takes courage, but this courage isn’t utilized solely on the battlefield. It is around late 1777 to mid 1778, and George Washington’s troops were camped at Valley Forge, Pennsylvania. This winter lodging is located on the Schuylkill River 18 miles northwest of Philadelphia, where the British are encamped. Supplies are running low and Valley Forge is exposed to the elements, leading to casualties from sickness, exposure, and starvation. Washington’s soldiers are now faced with a decision: Do they stay, reenlist, and keep fighting, or do they leave for home as soon as their nine month enlistment is over in February? If I had been in that scenario, I would have reenlisted because there is a need for able soldiers, Washington is

The Civil War marked a defining moment in United States history, the Civil War started in April 1861. Some of the groups that were in the Civil War were the Unions, Confederates, and the Cherokee Indians. They all had different ideas on how to live their lives, some thought that what one side was doing was

This lesson plan has been designed for an eleventh grade social studies class with the content of the lesson plan focusing on the United States Civil War. The reason I chose to create this specific lesson place was because I eventually want to be a social studies teacher in a high school. The lesson plan has been constructed in a way that allows for the teacher to present the information students are required to know with individual and group work, for a diverse learning experience.

The purpose of this paper is to show the events surrounding the end of the American Civil War. The two sides which were at war was the union and the confederacy. Which was basically the United States separated into 2 sections going at war with each other. In this document, I will speak about those people who were involved on the battlefield towards the end of the war.

After the Civil War, the fact that slavery was abolished might seem to be the end of the story; however, the problems derived from the abolishment of slavery had yet to be addressed. During the Reconstruction Era, these problems were reflected on the political, social, and economic aspects. Which played several major roles in shaping America from the late nineteenth into the twentieth centuries.These three aspects, political, social, and economical, affected one another so much that they were inseparable. The beginning leniency of Andrew Johnson all the way to the Confederates and later the political conflict between Johnson and the Radical Republicans, and lastly, the political struggle between Republicans and Democrats. It all resulted in the ever-changing policies toward the freed people. These different policies had strong effects on the society, especially the freed people. Although some of the policies, such as the abolition of slavery and several Constitutional Amendments were beneficial to the rights of freed people, the sudden increase of freed people brought about the separation of black and white and many other social issues. Thus the real equality among people still had yet to be achieved. The economy also affected the society and the politics. The depression of the economy after the Civil War made people focus on their own situations, instead of worrying about the freed people. For example the people were distressed about getting money and how to provide for

Frederick Douglass once said “What a change now greets us! The Government is aroused, the dead North is alive, and its divided people united…The cry now is for war, vigorous war, war to the bitter end, and war till the traitors are effectually and permanently put down” (Allen, 2005). In 1861, the start of the Civil War was needed by the Confederacy and the Union. Ever since the American Revolution and the birth of the United States, seventy-eight years earlier, there were many disagreements that began to tear apart the country. The main issues that were debated were state rights, unfair taxation, and slavery. Slavery was the main issue because it caused a separation between the north and the south. The north had mostly abolished slavery by this time because it became an industry driven economy, while the south was made up of plantations that grew crops. Almost half of the southern population was made up of slaves because about one-third of families owned slaves. The southern states wanted to break away to start their own establishment and we able to have slaves if they wanted. The Civil War began with the Battle of Fort Sumter. Fort Sumter is located in the Charleston, South Carolina harbor, three and a half miles from the shore. Many events occurred leading up to, during, and after the battle to mark it as an important part of the Civil War.

The Civil War is known as a turning point in America, the road to ending slavery, while first turning a nation against each other.

After the American Civil War, African Americans believed that their lives would improve. The Union had won the war, and the United States was whole again. There was hope, and above all, they were finally free. Even things were changing inside the government. Before the Civil War ended, Abraham Lincoln realized the states needed to have government officials loyal to the Unionist cause if the war was to end. So, after encouraging Arkansas to ratify a new state constitution in 1864, Arkansas citizens elected Isaac Murphy as Governor in hopes that Arkansas would rejoin the Union. He proved successful. Arkansas rejoined the Union at the end of the war. Moving forward three years after war, Powell Clayton “became the one of the youngest governors in Arkansas history” at the age of 34. In his inaugural address, he explained to the citizens everything he intended to do while governor. He warned that if anyone was caught keeping voters from the polls, they would face “severe pains and penalties of an outraged law” , and he declared that he would form a militia. Clayton, also, encouraged immigration and the railroad, and encouraged citizens to pay off their debts. Most importantly, Clayton created the Board of Education and required the formation of better school systems. All of the ideas presented were great in theory. It made it seem that Arkansas was full of promise for everyone. However, due to several groups of people and certain events, white Unionists and

     The Civil War, often called the War for Southern Independence began on April 12, 1861. The main cause of the war was slavery. The southern states depended on slaves to help grow crops which were the main source of income for the south. Slavery was illegal in all of the northern states but most people actually were neutral about it. The main conflict was if slavery should be permitted in the newly developing western territories.

“The US Civil War was incontrovertibly the bloodiest, most devastating conflict in American history, and it remains unknown - and unknowable - exactly how many men died in Union and Confederate uniform” (Nasaw, 2012). At the end of the American Civil War, in 1865 slavery was abolished, the military was greatly enhanced, and the great nation of America became whole again with the North and South being brought together.

The American Civil War lasted from April 12, 1861 to May 9, 1865. It was the bloodiest war in American history, killing approximately 620,000 soldiers in total. The War was fought and won by the North, ensuring that all the United States would stay united and slavery would be illegal in The United States. However, history is one of the most complicated things in the world. It’s also one of the most important things in the world because history is what made the present possible. Historians have debated the cause of The American Civil War for over a hundred and fifty years. This is a very complicated question as history can be a matter of opinion sometimes. When looking at history, one of the most important tools you can have is written words from past men and women of the time. “It is chiefly through books that we enjoy intercource with superior minds. In the best books, great men talk to us, give us their most precious thoughts, and pour their souls into ours. God be thanked for books. They are the voices of the distant and the dead, and make us their heirs of the spiritual life of past ages.” William Ellery Channing an American preacher 1780-1842. Writings from the time will reveal the true history of the time. The writings of John C. Calhoun, Alexander Stephens, and Henry Clay, are three opinions that highlight the causes of the Civil War.

Lincoln would have been able to maintain control the Radical Republicans, at least that is what is thought to be true. Lincoln 's death, however, left a blank space in

But, in a larger sense, we can not dedicate -- we can not consecrate -- we can not hallow -- this ground. The brave men, living and dead, who struggled here, have consecrated it, far above our poor power to add or detract. The world will little note, nor long remember what we say here, but it can never forget what they did here.