The Social, Economic, and Political Impacts of the U.S. Civil War A Presentation by: Linh Nghiem & Kaitlyn Knore

The U.S. Civil War The North vs The South Issues Leading to the War Economic differences in the northern and southern sections of America was a primary factor of the U.S. Civil War. The economy in the northern states was made up of industry, while the economy in the southern states was focused on agriculture, primarily cotton. Slavery was an important issue for those in the South, which relied on slavery to successfully run their plantations. One third of the population in the south was an African-American slave. All available monies were used to advance the lucrative cotton industry, leaving no funds for the development of other industries, such as those in the northern states. The North and South disagreed on many issues, but slavery was at the top of the list. After the election of an anti-slavery president (1860), President Abraham Lincoln, the 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America. The other states supported the Federal Government, the “Union.”

Geographic Layout of the North and the South Differences: Northern States Primary Economy – Industry Opposed Slavery Believed that the interest of the Republic should take precedence over the interest of individual states. Southern States Primary Economy – Agriculture /Cotton Relied on slave labor to run their plantations. Declared their secession from the United States to form the Confederate States, the “Confederacy.”

Changes in Societal Values After the Civil War Freedom & Rights The Civil War concluded with the abolishment of slavery and new Amendments to the Constitution of the United States guaranteeing rights and freedoms to those previously excluded. The 13 th Amendment (ratified in 1865) outlawed slavery in the United States. The 14 th Amendment (ratified in 1868) guaranteed that no state could “deprive any person of life, liberty, or property without due process of law” and assured “equal protection of the laws.” It also defined citizenship as “all persons born or naturalized in the United States.” The 15 th Amendment (ratified in 1870) guaranteed the right to vote without “account of race, color, or previous condition of servitude.”

Changes in Societal Values After the Civil War The Role of Women in Society Before the Civil War women were not encouraged or expected to pursue an education or employment outside of the home. A women’s primary responsibility in society was to be a mother and a homemaker. Once the Civil War began, most of the men were drafted into the war, and the need to fill jobs previously held by men increased. Women went to work in factories and hospitals, proving that they had the ability to do the same work as a man. Although women had not gained the right to vote and were still not considered equal to men, their contribution to society during the Civil War proved them to be a valuable and beneficial part of society.

Women Back Home During Times of War Civil War Nurse World War II – Rosie the Riveter

New Groups That Emerged After the Civil War Increase in Patriotism – With the end of the tension between the two regions, patriotism in the United States began to grow stronger. Increase in Immigration – Following the Civil War immigrants began to see the United States as the land of opportunity, and began immigrating to America in record numbers. Increase in Land Owners – For many years Southern lawmakers resisted policies such as tariffs to promote industry and homestead laws to promote farming, believing that slavery would not benefit from it. After the Civil War Republican lawmakers enacted these types of policies allowing for an increase in land and business ownership. Ku Klux Klan – The first Ku Klux Klan was formed in the late 1860’s by 6 veterans of the Confederate Army. The group opposed the civil rights given to African Americans and other minorities after the Civil War. The group targeted freed men and their allies and used violence to make their point.

Political Structure of the Country After the Civil War Once the Civil War was over the Union government implemented Reconstruction policies to help bring the southern states back to normal as soon as possible. The Freedman’s Bureau was created by the government to assist freed slaves in the south. In response to what was thought of as a moderate approach to the reconstruction of the south, a group called the Radical Republicans used their political power to upgrade the rights of freed slaves. This group later influenced a Republican coalition that came in to power in the southern states and set out to radically transform the society. Although slavery was abolished there were still southerners that did not agree with the ideology of the Union government. Frustrated with the attempts of the northern Republicans, southern whites formed a Democratic “Solid South.”

Post-War Economy Based on the industrial economy, the North prospered in both job opportunities and population. The Southern economy suffered as a result of the abolishment of slavery and a drastic decrease of the world price of cotton. Plantations were now much less profitable.

Social, Economic, and Political Shifts - Impact on Citizens The South had to rebuild houses, buildings, farms, and stores, while little of the North had been destroyed. The biggest impact the Civil War had on the citizens of the United States was that changed social roles of former slaves. Plantation owners had to allow their former slaves freedom, the ability to vote, run for office, and get an education. For many southern whites this caused great resentment. The war had accelerated the movement of women in the work force. Though women continued to face cultural barriers, there were new opportunities for positions as clerical workers, nurses and teachers. The U.S. Civil War produced approximately 1 million casualties, and accounted for about as many deaths as all American deaths in other U.S. wars combined.

Comparing the U.S. Civil War to World War II U.S. Civil War A war within the United States which involved warfare between the Northern and Southern states. Began with the secession of the Southern states from the United States in their attempt to form their own nation. Fighting took place on American soil only and did not involve any other countries. World War II Global war that involved a large majority of the world’s nations. Began with an invasion of Poland by German forces seeking to establish a large empire in Europe. Fighting took place in various regions throughout the world.

Comparing the U.S. Civil War to World War II continued U.S. Civil War The Northern states’ economy benefited greatly from the war. The Southern states did not experience any financial gains from the war. A large majority of the Southern sates were left in ruins from the warfare. The victories won for civil liberties and freedoms was just the beginning of change for the U.S. The results of the war gave hope, promise and determination to its people to keep striving towards a nation of endless opportunities with liberties for all. World War II American industry was revitalized by the war. The war’s global damage affected all other nations except the United States. Citizens experienced an increase in personal income and a higher quality of life. Scientific and technical changes of the war created an expectation of future innovation in science and engineering, as well as in the government and private sector.