Regional economic interests led to social and political differences that seemed insurmountable
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4-6.5: Explain the social, economic, and political effects of the Civil War on the United States. |
It is essential for students to know:
The Civil War had a profound impact on the United States economically, socially, and
politically. As a result of the war, the Union was preserved, and slaves were freed. The right of
states to secede was decided by force of arms to be null and void.
The economic effects of the civil war could be seen through the destruction of the physical
environment of the South. Much of the South was completely devastated by battle,
bombardment, military foraging or the practice of total war (like Sherman’s March to the Sea).
After slaves were freed, planters lost a large portion of their wealth as well as their labor force.
Fields were left unplanted and useless in the absence of slave labor and much of the male
population was no longer available or able to plant and harvest cash or even subsistence crops.
In a predominantly agricultural economy, the effect was devastating. The North’s physical
environment was largely not destroyed because most of the fighting took place in the South.
The North’s economy was also based mainly manufactured goods and the use of railroad and
canal systems to transport these goods. They did not suffer from a lack of food or supplies, as
those in the south did because of the blockade and destroyed rail lines. The war also prompted
growth of businesses in the North as the government granted contracts for military supplies. The
Union also issued paper money that retained most of its value after the war while the paper
money issued by the Confederacy was worthless after the war ended. The lack of factories in the
South directly impacted its ability to provide for their army during the blockade and devastation
of the transportation and communication systems. The war’s end found entire cities burned, large
plantations destroyed, and the communication and transportation systems in shambles throughout
the region.
The social effects of the war depended greatly on pre- and post- war circumstances. Young men
from both sides (and old men in the South) enlisted or were drafted into service. The wealthy
were often able to pay for someone else to take their place. In the South, planters were exempt
from service if they owned over 20 slaves, while in the North one could pay the government to
be exempt or hire a substitute to take one’s place. Soldiers endured a long, difficult, and bloody
war that many initiall thought would be an adventure or a rout. Over 600,000 men on both sides
died, mostly because of the lack of food, clean water, and hygienic medical practices. Over
1,100,000 were injured.
In both regions, women also had a part in the war. They were left in charge of their homes,
farms, and/or businesses while the men were away fighting, challenging the roles expected of
them in their day. In the North, women served as nurses or worked in factories during the war.
Others rolled bandages or knitted socks at home to send the soldiers. In the South, women were
left to manage their families and continue operating the farms and plantations. In both regions
women also served as nurses, secretaries and teachers, entering the traditionally male professions
for the first time when the opposite gender was no longer available and transforming those
professional fields into a purview henceforth dominated by women. Because so many men died
in the war or were maimed from their injuries or the treatment of them, many women had to
continue managing their families during the difficult period of rebuilding, again often
challenging the previously accepted societal roles of the time.
During the war, some African American slaves ran away from the plantations while others
continued to work where they always had, waiting for the war to end. After the Emancipation
Proclamation was issued, African Americans were allowed to join the Union Army and many did
from both the North and South, proving that race had nothing to do with the ability to be a
soldier. Immediately after the war, many former slaves left the plantations where they had lived
looking for loved ones sold away. Some simply left because freedom meant the ability to do so.
A few freedmen went to the North, but it was a long journey. Many returned to the areas they
knew because they were familiar, had nowhere else to go and had learned that freedom from
slavery did not mean freedom from work. Often they became sharecroppers. African Americans
legally married, restored their families, created their own communities, participated in politics
and sought education denied them as slaves.
The political effects of the war involved trying to recover from the devastating impact of the war
and the divisions created. These divisions would continue into the Reconstruction period and
beyond. Lincoln’s plan for Reconstruction was issued before the surrender at Appomattox. It
was a lenient plan because he wanted the country to be reunited as quickly and painlessly as
possible. Lincoln’s assassination after the surrender caused a disruption in the rebuilding of the
nation.
The Civil War had a profound impact on the United States economically, socially, and
politically. As a result of the war, the Union was preserved, and slaves were freed. The right of
states to secede was decided by force of arms to be null and void.
The economic effects of the civil war could be seen through the destruction of the physical
environment of the South. Much of the South was completely devastated by battle,
bombardment, military foraging or the practice of total war (like Sherman’s March to the Sea).
After slaves were freed, planters lost a large portion of their wealth as well as their labor force.
Fields were left unplanted and useless in the absence of slave labor and much of the male
population was no longer available or able to plant and harvest cash or even subsistence crops.
In a predominantly agricultural economy, the effect was devastating. The North’s physical
environment was largely not destroyed because most of the fighting took place in the South.
The North’s economy was also based mainly manufactured goods and the use of railroad and
canal systems to transport these goods. They did not suffer from a lack of food or supplies, as
those in the south did because of the blockade and destroyed rail lines. The war also prompted
growth of businesses in the North as the government granted contracts for military supplies. The
Union also issued paper money that retained most of its value after the war while the paper
money issued by the Confederacy was worthless after the war ended. The lack of factories in the
South directly impacted its ability to provide for their army during the blockade and devastation
of the transportation and communication systems. The war’s end found entire cities burned, large
plantations destroyed, and the communication and transportation systems in shambles throughout
the region.
The social effects of the war depended greatly on pre- and post- war circumstances. Young men
from both sides (and old men in the South) enlisted or were drafted into service. The wealthy
were often able to pay for someone else to take their place. In the South, planters were exempt
from service if they owned over 20 slaves, while in the North one could pay the government to
be exempt or hire a substitute to take one’s place. Soldiers endured a long, difficult, and bloody
war that many initiall thought would be an adventure or a rout. Over 600,000 men on both sides
died, mostly because of the lack of food, clean water, and hygienic medical practices. Over
1,100,000 were injured.
In both regions, women also had a part in the war. They were left in charge of their homes,
farms, and/or businesses while the men were away fighting, challenging the roles expected of
them in their day. In the North, women served as nurses or worked in factories during the war.
Others rolled bandages or knitted socks at home to send the soldiers. In the South, women were
left to manage their families and continue operating the farms and plantations. In both regions
women also served as nurses, secretaries and teachers, entering the traditionally male professions
for the first time when the opposite gender was no longer available and transforming those
professional fields into a purview henceforth dominated by women. Because so many men died
in the war or were maimed from their injuries or the treatment of them, many women had to
continue managing their families during the difficult period of rebuilding, again often
challenging the previously accepted societal roles of the time.
During the war, some African American slaves ran away from the plantations while others
continued to work where they always had, waiting for the war to end. After the Emancipation
Proclamation was issued, African Americans were allowed to join the Union Army and many did
from both the North and South, proving that race had nothing to do with the ability to be a
soldier. Immediately after the war, many former slaves left the plantations where they had lived
looking for loved ones sold away. Some simply left because freedom meant the ability to do so.
A few freedmen went to the North, but it was a long journey. Many returned to the areas they
knew because they were familiar, had nowhere else to go and had learned that freedom from
slavery did not mean freedom from work. Often they became sharecroppers. African Americans
legally married, restored their families, created their own communities, participated in politics
and sought education denied them as slaves.
The political effects of the war involved trying to recover from the devastating impact of the war
and the divisions created. These divisions would continue into the Reconstruction period and
beyond. Lincoln’s plan for Reconstruction was issued before the surrender at Appomattox. It
was a lenient plan because he wanted the country to be reunited as quickly and painlessly as
possible. Lincoln’s assassination after the surrender caused a disruption in the rebuilding of the
nation.