American History

American History

 

East Civil War

            It has been reported that the American Civil War caught both sides unprepared, with both the Union and the Confederacy had to build their armies practically from scratch ( 2006). Both sides sought a quick victory focused on the respective nearby capitols of Washington, D.C. and Richmond, Virginia, but neither side would surrender their national identity cheaply ( 2006). In addition, even after the First Battle of Bull Run, many were slow to accept that war would last much longer than a single campaign, spilling across the continent, and even to the high seas ( 2006). Much of the resources of America would be consumed before it would be resolved ( 2006).

            Because of the fierce resistance of a few initial Confederate forces at Manassas, Virginia in July 1861, a march by Union troops under the command of Maj. Gen. on the Confederate forces, there was halted in the First Battle of Bull Run, or First Manassas, whereupon they were forced back to Washington, D.C. by Confederate troops (2006). Alarmed at the loss, and in an attempt to prevent more slave states from leaving the Union, the U.S. Congress passed the Crittenden-Johnson Resolution on July 25 of that year, which stated that the war being fought to preserve the Union and not to end slavery (2006). Although the Union troops enjoyed an early advantage, driving the Confederates back, the tide turned that afternoon (2006). Col. inspired his Virginia brigade to withstand a strong Union attack and timely reinforcements arrived by railroad from Johnston’s army (2006). The green Union soldiers began to fall back and it turned into a panicky retreat, with many running almost as far as Washington (2006). The Union defeat at First Bull Run shocked the North and a new sense of grim determination swept the United States as military and civilians alike realized that they would need to invest significant money and manpower to win a protracted, bloody war (2006).

            The war continued and included the states of Virginia, West Virginia, Maryland, and Pennsylvania, the District of Columbia and the coastal fortifications and seaports of North Carolina (2006). It includes the campaigns that are generally most famous in the history of war, if not for their strategic significance, but for their proximity to the large population centers, the major newspapers, and the capital cities of the opposing parties (2006). With the development of the war, the Union Army suffered 13,000 casualties and the Confederates lost 10,000, and the difference in manpower between the two sides now becoming more noticeable, the Union consisted of 23 states and 22,000,000 people, the Confederacy had only 9,000,000 people (including 3,500,000 slaves) ( 2006). 

Abolitionist Movement

            It has been reported that the abolitionist movement is the reform movement during the 18th and 19th centuries, which is often called the antislavery movement and seeks to end the enslavement of Africans and people of African descent in Europe, the Americas, and Africa itself ( 2006). The Revolution set in motion actions in every state to abolish slavery, and although it succeeded in the northern states by 1804, the emancipation was so gradual that there were still a dozen “permanent apprentices” in the 1860 census ( 2006). The principal organized bodies to advocate this were the Society of Friends, the Pennsylvania Antislavery Society, and the New York Manumission Society ( 2006). In the 1820s and 1830s, the American Colonization Society was the main vehicle for proposals to eventually do away with slavery and had a broad support nationwide ( 2006). In addition, a radical shift came in the 1830s led by , who demanded “immediate emancipation, gradually achieved” and demanded that slave-owners repent immediately, and set up a system of emancipation ( 2006). In the South, the blacks were eventually be given freedom for abolitionists continued to pursue the freedom of slaves in the remaining slave states and to better the conditions of black Americans generally, in accordance to the Emancipation Proclamation on January 1, 1863 ( 2006). In addition, the passage of the Thirteenth Amendment in 1865 officially ended slavery ( 2006). The abolitionist movement helped many slaves to be freed and helped each to realize their plight as being inferior to white Americans during those times. The abolitionist movement became a way wherein many slaves were given human rights, as before the emancipation era, most slaves or black Americans were maltreated and abused. With the help of the abolitionist movement, which lead to the emancipation of the slaves, it has somehow given them “freedom” for a very short while. For a short while, the blacks were given the right to vote and participate in national elections, but many whites again, took away this right from the blacks. In a way, it has open a window to freedom, as when the whites tried to take away their freedom, many leaders, such as Martin Luther King, Jr. lead many blacks to support him in his cause. This is to fight for their freedom and to stand up for equality among race, gender and skin color. It has also paved a way for other movements in different parts of America to be established and be supported by many.

            During the emancipation era, many blacks were killed as compared to the times of slavery, which led to the realization of the community and society to take action, for most are killed without judicial or legal trials (.). This matter has awakened the conscience of the public and has lead to justification of the whites by giving reasons. One reason for these merciless killings is that blacks are accused of planning an insurrection against the whites, so many were murdered to stop it. Another reason is the blacks’ participation from national elections (.). Their situation was devastating, for the government has given them the right but could not protect them from having it. The third reason was the incidence when a slave makes a romantic relationship with a white woman, even if the relationship is voluntary (.). The blacks were accused to be rapists and assailants of womanhood (.). From these accusations and injustices, many concerned citizens, including white men and women stood up for human rights and helped many black families. By setting a good example, they had encouraged many other citizens, even from other states and other countries to uphold human rights and to promote equality among race. This has changed the political dialogue of the era, as many leaders emerged and many movements to fight for equality came about. The rights of the blacks were gradually given importance by the whites and more citizens around the world, especially in the United States have become more culture sensitive. While the abolitionist movement’s greatest achievement was certainly the liberation of millions of black people from servitude, it also reflected the triumph of modern ideas of freedom and human rights over older social forms based on privileged elites and social stratification ( 2006).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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