Understanding the Importance of the American Civil War...

Understanding the Importance of the American Civil War The American Civil War remains one of the most heated and highly debated pieces of history in not only the United States, but also the entire modern world. It remains so not only in its origins, but in the goals of each side, and the effects it had on American culture. The effects, as I will demonstrate much later, were not limited exclusively to the United States, and extended to many foreign ideals and practices as well. This demonstrates the importance of this war politically and socially to modern history. In order to completely understand the political and social reasons behind this bloody period in American history, one has to look back over thirty-years prior to†¦show more content†¦What I want to focus on is economics. Here is why: Northern, social views on slavery began to threaten the Southern economic way of life; in order to protect their economic institution, Southerners use politics to try and sway the movement, such as bringing states? rights in as an issue. ?The South?s decision to initiate warfare can be seen as a predictable result of their appraisal of the conditions which they faced.? The economics of slavery has become more extensively studied over the past many years. In researching, three key principles that deal with the economics of slavery seem to best demonstrate the importance of the Southern economical system. The first states, ?slaves were profitable investments to Southern owners; that is, they repaid as high a rate of pecuniary return as available alternative uses of capital.? Planters were making a great deal of money using this institution, and there was no other way to match the production they were seeing. Abolition not only meant the loss of their labor force, but a huge loss in profits that would not be regained in the foreseeable future. The second states, ?slavery was viable. In the absence of emancipation, by such forces as the Civil War, it would have been economically profitable indefinitely.? In sense of numbers, aShow MoreRelatedImportance of Understanding Civil-Military Relations1610 Words   |  7 PagesThe Importance of Understanding Civil-Military Relations â€Å"Some folks are born made to wave the flag, Ooh, they’re red, white and blue†¦ And when the band plays hail to the chief, Ooh, they point the cannon at you, lord†¦ It aint me, it aint me, I aint no senators son, son†¦ It aint me, it aint me; I aint no fortunate one, no†¦ Some folks inherit star spangled eyes, Ooh, they send you down to war, lord†¦ And when you ask them, how much should we give? Ooh, they only answer more! More! More! Yoh†¦ Read MoreAbraham Lincoln and the Fourth Estate: The White House and the Press During the American Civil War by Richard Carwardine565 Words   |  3 PagesEstate: The White House and the Press during the American Civil War† Richard Carwardine discusses the incredible increase in the Press’ contribution to the American Civil War. Carwardine explains Abraham Lincoln’s role with the media and his use of newspapers as political weaponry from before the election and into his presidency. This topic is significant because it illustrates Abraham Lincoln’s intelligence and strengths as a president during the Civil War. The article gives insight to how Lincoln mayRead MoreThe War Of The Civil War921 Words   |  4 PagesThere are no doubts that acts of war can have a negative impact on the individuals involved. There are countless stories of the soldiers’ experi ences in the war, and how it affected their lives, families, and attitudes. However, there is a large demographic that is hardly accounted for: children, specifically during the Civil War era. Understanding the children that lived in the time of the Civil War is important because it affected their future careers, shaped their attitudes towards race, and affectedRead MoreThe Preservation Of The Confederate Memory Lives On Through The Robert E. Lee Memorial Essay1075 Words   |  5 Pagesabout the monument of Robert E. Lee and his importance to the preservation of Confederate Memory. But, recently a major debate surrounding the monument has spurred an argument between two groups. One group wants the monument to be removed or relocated from its original spot in Richmond V.A. This group believes that it is an offensive symbol in support of slavery. The other group fights to protect the monument and its location because of its importance to the southern heritage. However, trying toRead MoreThe United States And The Civil War851 Words   |  4 Pagescornerstone of the numerous transformations of the American society. It is the notion that is found in speeches of both Republican and Democrat politicians, the idea that connected the mind of an affluent Southern plantation owner and that of a radical abolitionist. Generally, the understanding of any period in the United States history as a whole relies heavily on acquiring the knowledge of the way of life, and the patterns of thought of the American public. The meaning of freedom provides a uniqueRead MoreCarl Von Clausewitz s The Fundamental Nature Of War1065 Words   |  5 Pages Carl von Clausewitz articulated a number of observations and principles describing the fundamental nature of war. First among these is his assertion that all military action, including war, is aimed at achieving a political objective. Additionally, he observed that each side in a conflict would resist the other with a degree of eff ort equal to the value of their political objective. Finally, he argued that it is essential to focus all efforts on overcoming an adversary’s principle sourceRead MoreEdward Baptist And The Civil War847 Words   |  4 PagesFew topics in American history garner the attention, and generate the level of raw emotion among the populace, as chattel slavery during the nineteenth century. However, despite the importance this peculiar institution played, and continues to play, in shaping American society, relatively few people understand its history at more than a elementary level. Edward Baptist attempts to change this fundamental deficiency in The Half Has Never Been Told. Structured as a narrative, it brilliantly describesRead MoreEssay about The Motives for Which They Fought1211 Words   |  5 PagesThe Motives for Which They Fought The reasons given for why Civil War soldiers fought are abundant, but among the vast array of motives, only a few could be taken into careful consideration. Some argue that the main interest for both the North and South was political in nature, reasoning that if the government fell, so would the future and characteristics of both nations. Consequently, some of the various diaries and personal accounts affirm that soldiers felt an overwhelming sense of duty, whichRead MoreThe American Civil War : Censorship And The Passage Of Time1603 Words   |  7 Pages The American Civil War has captured the popular imagination of the world for more than a hundred and fifty years. Academic scholars and neophyte history buffs alike have published thousands of books on the subject, adding to a growing canon of Civil War literature and knowledge. Little attention is paid, however, to the intimate personal lives and sexual intimacies of the people who lived during that crucial period in American history. Historians pay even less attention to those figures who existedRead MoreCauses of the Civil War Essay661 Words   |  3 PagesA major conflict in the United States’ history is the American Civil War. Many causes led to the Civil War. This all happened around the mid 1800s. It was a conflict between the Northern and Southern states. Both sides had their own view on slavery, and their separate views caused contentions between the two. Both had different views on whether to expand or stop slavery growth to the West, or have slavery at all. The biggest cause was a social difference between slave and anti-slave states. Also