The Legacy Of The American Civil War - 1784 Words

The American Civil War was a unique event in history. It involved and raised so many profound questions about nations and laws, and about humanity and conscience. Often described as the first modern war, it was, for Americans, the bloodiest ever fought. It changed fundamentally the nature of citizenship, and tried to bring an end to one of the great obscenities for which humans have been responsible. Its divisions echo with us still today. Hanging a confederate flag has powerful connotations and evokes powerful reactions. Electorally we still think in terms of northern and southern states, northern and southern candidates. It was traumatizing for the nation, and in many ways there is still much that is unresolved. To guide the nation through this unique traumatic event, we had perhaps our greatest president. A man whose political ingenuity, moral commitment, willingness to act, and eloquence see him often described as one of the greatest leaders in history. It is impossible to ima gine that the division over slavery and the Civil War would have gone as they did without Lincoln being the president. But it is worth considering that these events could also have unfolded wholly other way had a different man been the leader of the Confederacy. It is very possible that Jefferson Davis should also be recognized for helping this experiment in democracy to survive while ending slavery. His contrast to Lincoln, the very absence in Davis of all the qualities Lincoln had, meantShow MoreRelatedThe Legacy Of The American Civil War1531 Words   |  7 PagesThe American Civil War was the South’s to lose, even though they lacked the firepower needed and had far less men, the win was within their grasp after the first shot at Fort Sumter. The reason for this was simple, they had a cause and they were willing to fight for it until the very end. They also had a few men who stood out as some of the most intelligent and militarily inclined leaders ever to have control o f an army. Of those masterminds included Robert E. Lee, Stonewall Jackson, James LongstreetRead MoreThe Legacy Of The American Civil War1030 Words   |  5 Pages When the American Civil War began, President Abraham Lincoln carefully framed the issue concerning the preservation of the Union rather than the abolition of slavery. As an individual, Lincoln hated slavery, he knew that neither Northerners nor the residents of the border slave states would support abolition as a war aim. As a Republican, he wished to eliminate it from the territories as the first step to putting the institution â€Å"in the course of ultimate extinction.† But as president of the UnitedRead MoreThe Legacy Of The American Civil War921 Words   |  4 Pagesâ€Å"Where there are men there will be war.† A simple statement made by one of the greatest thinkers of our generation, Albert Einstein. As a nation in its developmental stages there would be moments and trials that would define as a count ry and as a species. None more prevalent in our development than the civil war. Our founding fathers sought to create a perfect government, in which every individual has a voice. In certain aspects they succeeded greatly but in others they failed. The north and southRead MoreThe Legacy Of The American Civil War1110 Words   |  5 PagesThe American Civil War was the result of decades of sectional tensions between the North and South. Over the next several months eleven southern states seceded and formed the Confederate States of America. During the first two years of the war, Southern troops won numerous victories, but saw their fortunes turned after losses at Gettysburg and Vicksburg in 1863. From then on, Northern forces worked to conqueror the South, forcing them to surrender in April 1865. The roots of the Civil War can beRead MoreThe Legacy Of The American Civil War1283 Words   |  6 Pagesare many topics such as slavery had been considered to be the root of the War Between the States. All of these subjects are actually just facets of one and that is culture. The idea that the American Civil War was the result of divergent and clashing northern and southern cultures is one that is valid, sound, and supported. Culture affects how people perceive themselves, others, and the world. Of the many aspects of American culture there are a few that stand out for being the most divisive: slaveryRead MoreRace And Reunion : The Civil War1581 Words   |  7 Pagessouth. Striving for a reunion, a majority of American white communities close obscure the civil war racial narrative would only fade. In race and reunion: The Civil War in American memory, by David Blight, represents how Americans chose to remember the Civil War conflict, from the beginning of the turning point of the w ar. The two major themes race and reunion, demonstrate how white Americans adjusted and altered the causes and outcomes of the Civil War to reflect their particular ideas regardingRead MoreJohn F. Kennedy 1158 Words   |  5 PagesReflections on the Life, Assassination, and Legacy of John F. Kennedy written by Dean R. Owen is a series of reflections of people who knew and admired John F. Kennedy. Most people in the book discuss where they were the day of his assassination, their reaction, and how it affected everything and everyone around them. Others speak about what kind of leader Kennedy was, the legacy he left behind, and how when he died the country was never the same. Owen writes about people who once workedRead MoreTime Line 21050 Words   |  5 PagesNOTE: Before starting the Timeline project please refer to the Example Timeline Matrix document. Instructions: Complete the matrix by providing the Time Period/Date(s) in column B, and the Description and Significance of the People/Event(s) to American History in column C. See complete instructions in the Syllabus for the Module 3 assignment entitled. â€Å"Timeline Part II.† NOTE: The timeline project does not need to be submitted to turnitin. NOTE: Please write your answers in a clear and conciseRead MoreEssay about The Reconstruction Era: The Planted Seeds1231 Words   |  5 PagesThe first roar of the Civil War ended with a last gasp for air. Where in such a war more than six hundred twenty thousand men sacrificed their lives for their own belief in the abolishment of slavery (â€Å"Civil War Facts†). â€Å"We here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain. That this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom† (Baslor). These wise words of Abraham Lincoln cleared the way of a desolate trail of violence and pain, yet he was determined to accomplish his plansRead MoreThe Legacy Of Abraham Lincoln s 12 Years A Slave 1366 Words   |  6 Pages† During the Pre-Civil war period, the North and the South had already divided over their differences, such as geography and slavery. They found it hard to resolve their differences that tensions developed and fights broke out. These ev ents caused the need for leadership. Abraham Lincoln’s election caused him step up to that position of leadership which allowed him to leave a legacy by the Emancipation Proclamation, Gettysburg Address, and the Amendments. Lincoln set the Civil war and took Cultural