The Civil War is arguably the most important event in American history. In "America's Civil War" introduction and Chapter one Simpson identifies to the reader the historical importance of the Civil War and the events leading up to the first shot on Fort Sumter. Simpson first highlights on the fact that any history book ever written was written from the views and opinions of the writer, he does not claim his book to be any different but identifies the need to bring together these ideas stating none are more correct than the others but all of significance for understanding this important nation changing part of American history.
The first important idea Simpson writes about in this book is that of a nation reborn and the major transformations which occurred throughout the Civil War. First, "the end of slavery and the emancipation of over four million people promised radical changes in politics, economics, and society both in the South and in the nation." Without the Civil War it is hard to determine if or when slavery would have ended and how, would there just have been a delay of action, slavery still today, or would it have gradually faded away? (highly doubtful) The second, "were the remaking of American institutions and reshaping of federal policy in several fields,". Later in the chapter Simpson speaks of the rebirth of a nation and this idea is that of new policies, procedures and ideas for America as an entire nation. Without the war there would have been continuous clashing between the North and South for years without any sort of resolution. Is it fair to say the death of over 1 million soldiers constitutes the freedom of 4 million black men and women? For every 4 slaves freed after the Civil War 1 life was taken for the cause. A notable transformation identified by Simpson is the opportunity the war provided for the establishment of the Republican party. The party's antislavery, anti-Democratic and anti-Southern origins paralleled those of many Northerners of the time as well as the eventual freed blacks of the nation.
No one can argue that without slavery our nation would have been as prosperous as it is and grow as strong and fast as it did. History shows that all great nations exist on the foundation of slavery but what is there to be said about the end of this same tradition? The United States is and has always been founded upon the principle of equality but without all people of the nation free, I think we can all agree that was not the case. At what cost was this nation built on the backs of the enslaved and repressed? Was it worth the title of first world power? Could we have risen as far as we did without this evil institution?
One ironic argument in Simpson's introduction for the cause leading up to war is that of protection and preservation for both the North and South. Both sides were looking to protect and preserve something. The North went into the war wanting to preserve and protect the nation's "representative political institutions it represented." The South was determined to preserve the institution of slavery and protect it's home deeply rooted in the southern states. Both sides essentially failed at in their efforts. The Civil War happened. Slavery was abolished and the nation's political institutions were changed forever. In hindsight it is easy to say, oh well that is a good thing, but at the time these two ideas were worth the cause of a viscous four year war.
What surprised me about Chapter 1 were the many references for attempt at delayed peace. I did not realize how many citizens both north and south were against war. Many southern border states realized that if secession brought war, the first battles were to be fought on their land. Many of these states obviously preferred a peaceful solution in favor of the institution of slavery. Constitutional amendments were offered by the North to the South for the protection of slavery where it already existed as well as proposals extending the Missouri compromise line. All of these proposals were more than fair to Conservative Republicans but unsatisfactory to the Democratic Southerners. Many Northerners were preparing themselves for the possibility of war but still expected resolution through peace. One of these people being the president himself. "Lincoln, anticipated eventual reunion through a peaceful resolution of the crisis that did not entail compromising party principles on slavery." Frederick Douglas was ready for the war stating, "Let the conflict come." many northerners agreed with Douglas's view that with slavery as an American institution there would be no peace. Was there any chance for change without war? I do not think so. American ideas and ideals were at a stand still. Individuals for and against slavery were not moving and unwilling to compromise.
Max to qualify your statement of if it was worth it? Americans have chosen to fight for worse reasons and it would of been worth it if it was a 1:1 ratio. History has or better stated that recorded history has put twist on every event that this country has ever involved itself. We can think of all the good that has occurred from the war amongst us or we can chose to rehash every volatile word spoken or every atrocity committed by both militias. I think we need to view the American Civil War as a necessity to change, forceful change.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you that the Civil War was the only way for our country to go forward. I feel that slavery would have eventually faded away without the war, but it is hard to say how long it would have taken. The only thing for sure is that without the war we would be two separate countries today.
ReplyDeleteAs you have pointed out, our country was “founded upon the principle of equality but without all people of the nation free.” Yet, even after the war, African-Americans were still treated as second class citizens. They were free but did not have the same rights as everyone else.
It seems as if the country did everything it could to avoid a war. As you pointed out, Northerners were willing to make some compromises that were not accepted by Southerners. I truly believe that war was the last thing the country wanted, but many believed it was their only choice to preserve the nation.
Again, I believe that even without the war, slavery would have eventually ended in the South. But without the war, we would probably be two separate countries.
There is no doubt that the Civil War is one of the most important if not the most important event in the history of America. The war though is deeper than slavery itself, its slavery, political divisions, and the economy of the north and the south all put together. I think it's hard to say that without slavery the United States wouldn't have grown like it did. Maybe if there wasn't slavery in the United States there wouldn't be that political division and the "north" and "south" it could have just been the United States of America. We could have combined our economies into one, they could industrialize like the north and be thrown into the modern times. Slavery wouldn't have gone away without violence though there is no doubt about it, it was to important to the south and it wasn't just going to go away. Civil War has shaped America to the way it is today.
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