HY 1110 Unit VIII Assessment

Other than Gettysburg or Vicksburg, make an argument for the single event you deem the most significant to the legacy of the American Civil War on reforms that are present in today’s American Society, and explain your choice. You may choose from political, military, economic, or social impact. Your choice should include setting, timeline, major figures, catalysts, outcomes, and statistics (if a battle). More than just a recap, this needs to explain why this is still significant today and use evidence from the past to talk about the present.

Your response must be at least 300 words in length.

I selected the emancipation proclamation as it is one of the greatest an and most important legacies of the American Civil War on reforms. Even in today’s society the emancipation proclamation is still very important. Signed on September 22, 1862, but issued on January 1, 1863, Lincoln promised that all slaves associated in any way with the Confederate cause “are, and henceforward shall be free (Lincoln, 1862). Though subject to scrutiny over its limitations, such as only impacting seceded states, and purposely omitting Union controlled regions in the South (like Kentucky), this landmark document would serve a dual role as an order for acceptance of African American soldiers and sailors into the Union cause. Lincoln knew that ending slavery in the Confederacy would help to end the war, but he also knew that his words were only as powerful as those willing to hear them. While for Americans this was a direct challenge to the perceived sovereignty of the Confederate States of America, on a wider scale, it also attacked potential international Confederate sympathies by demonstrating that this war was addressing an abolitionist cause. Lincoln knew that the Confederate Army was using slave labor to supplement their low manning, so with that thought in mind Lincoln figured freeing these slaves would help to weaken the Confederate Army, which is exactly what it did. The emancipation proclamation changed the meaning of the Civil War it was no longer just preserving the North or Union it was now also about freeing slaves.

Why is the emancipation proclamation still significant today? It reality it didn’t really free any slaves upon its implementation, what it did do was commit the nation to ending slavery. It helped lead the way to the US Congress making constitutional amendments specifically the 13th Amendment that abolished slavery on 6 December 1865. This amendment open the door to equality which is still being fought for today.

Lincoln, A. (1862). The Emancipation Proclamation. Retrieved from http://www.emancipationproclamation.org/

CSU History Department. Unit VI, VII, & VIII Study Guide. Orange Beach, AL: Columbia Southern University, 2016.

Introduce the debate surrounding abolition vs. equality and how it led to the American Civil War. Why were there significant fears about the impact of freed slaves in the North? Who had the most to win/lose?

Your response must be at least 200 words in length.

The Abolitionist movement in the United States of America was a mission to end slavery in the United States of America. Over time, abolitionists grew more forceful in their demands, and slave owners rooted in response, fueling regional disruptiveness that ultimately led to the American Civil War. Even though many in the North valued personal freedom and believed that all men were created equal, there were questions such as what would an increase of American population by hundreds of former slaves looking for work do to the already overcrowded labor pool? Other major questions were, was abolition beneficial to the future of the growing American citizenry? Could Slavery be removed without jeopardizing the American dream? All of these questions plagues Americans in the North but did not stop them from standing up for their belief of freeing all slaves. The North had the most to lose in the American Civil War. The South did have better generals and leaders but the North had more men and a better trained military. The North not only outmanned the South but had the edge when it came to industry which helped them keep the European recognition. By the end of the war the south had more weapons but not enough men to use them. Had the South better planned and strategized it could have easily overtaken the North.

CSU History Department. Unit VI, VII, & VIII Study Guide. Orange Beach, AL: Columbia Southern University, 2016.