Civil War Essay Examples

Civil War Essay Examples

The Civil War was the only war the United States lived within its own territory. The Civil War was the war waged by the States of the South and the North from 1861 to 1865. From the Colonial Era, the United States of America presented a fundamental characteristic: the radical difference between the colonies of the North and those of the South, as much in the economic thing as in the way of being of each one of them.

Thus, while the North States had a diversified economy (agriculture, livestock, industry, and commerce), preference for the European workforce and for the bourgeois and democratic forms; the Southern States, on the other hand, had an economy based on agriculture (cotton, sugar cane and tobacco), a labor force made up of black slaves and an inclination towards aristocratic forms. A slave-owning farmer enlisted in the 13th Georgia because “our homes firesides our land and negroes and even the virtues of our fair ones is at stake” (McPherson p. 19).

The North Populated by settlers of democratic and religious spirit - Puritans and Quakers were determined supporters of freedom and equality, and therefore bitter enemies of slavery. “This contest is not the North against South,” wrote a young Philadelphia printer six days before he enlisted. “It is government against anarchy, the law against disorder” (McPherson p. 18). The north was clear that they had to obey the laws of the government whether they liked it or not, they were outraged that those from the south were rebels who did not want to obey the government, they knew that if they allowed the south build a new government the future of The United States would be fatal because the other states would also begin to do the same to separate themselves from the government.

The Southern volunteers of the war believed they were fighting for liberty as well as slavery, a farmer who enlisted in the 26th Tennessee insisted that “life liberty and property were at stake” (McPherson p.20). The South was afraid that if the slaves were taken away they would not be able to own property and would not have workers on their farms to grow the food that they sell every day and that they needed to live a wealthy life without debts. The south had more than 4 million slaves working for them making cotton to sell. The social order of the south was based entirely on the segregation of the slaves, who were considered an inferior race. White supremacy included all aspects of daily life and politics. The slave owners behaved like true kings within their respective homes. During the Civil War, the volunteers repeated the same words that they were going to fight for the liberty they deserve in the United States. Lincoln made a point and said, “the perfect liberty they sigh for” is “the liberty of making slaves of other people” (McPherson p.20).

Many volunteers from the North and South not only fought for property, slaves, for obeying the government. Many fought for their honor as men who have to defend their state or their families. Some wanted to be remembered as heroes who went to war no matter if they were going to die because they were happy if they died defending their homeland. Many men left their wives, their children, pregnant wives, girlfriends, their fiancйs because they had to go to fight for their land, for their country, for their honor, for a better future in the United States of America. Confederate soldiers cited the obligations of duties, they were more likely to speak about honor. A sergeant in the 24th Mississippi told his sister: “Life is sweet, but I would always prefer an honorable death to a disgraceful and shameful life” (McPherson p. 23).

A family member of the previous president of America also fought during the Civil War, Charles Francis Adams, Jr. the great-son and grandson of America’s second and sixth presidents entered the civil war as a colonel of the 5th Massachusetts Calvary, he volunteered himself to show the country that his family means what they said, because they always opposed to having slaves. “For years our family has talked of slavery and of the South and been most prominent in the contest of words”, wrote Charles Jr. to his father (McPherson p. 25). Another politician that volunteered was Rutherford B. Hayes, he went in as a major and later he became president of the United States. Hayes was a distinguished man who fought for a better nation, he protected the slaves from the south, he was wound many times, but he survived the war because he was in the civil war he gained the respect of many people and that’s how he became President.

In the Civil War, numerous men enlisted for liberty, for freedom of slaves, but also were numerous men that enlisted just because they wanted to know how it feels to be in a war.

The Civil War lasted 4 years Southern against Northern. Southern fought for lands, properties, to keep their slaves, the Northern fought to abolish slaves, to have only one nation, and because we should only have only one government and only one president in the United States as a nation. There were also men from both sides that fought to honor, integrity, liberty. Also, we have the other men that fought because they didn’t know they just did it because that was happening at the moment in their lives and they felt the obligation to do it. After the Civil War, United States became strong and more unified than before without rebellions from the states, the Civil War was necessary to prove that everyone that lives here needs to obey the law, not matter if you like it or not.

 

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We've found 84 essays on Civil War

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To What Extent Was Slavery the Cause of the American Civil War?

In the context of the period 1763-1865, how far was the American Civil War caused by long term divisions over the issue of slavery? In his second inaugural address in March 1865, Abraham Lincoln looked back at the beginning of the Civil War four years …

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Words 4092
Pages 15
Most Significant Immediate Consequences of the Civil War

First of all, the freedom of slaves led to dilemmas concerning housing, clothing, food, employment; the financial difficulties which led to having no money, closure of banks, inadequacy of supply of basic commodities, destruction of railroads and bridges, devastation of plantation and crops; as well …

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Was the English Civil War a War of Religion?

Was the English Civil War a war of Religion? The English Civil Wars of 1642 to 1651 had religious connections indefinitely, yet to say that they were wars of religion is slightly blindsided. Economics, national and foreign policy and the rule of King Charles I …

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Words 2021
Pages 8
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Civil War in Sierra Leone

I. Introduction Between 1991 and 2002, Sierra Leone was heavily damaged by a tremendously violent civil war. This civil war erupted because of the mounting dissatisfaction of the people, especially the youth that were engrossed by the rebellious Revolutionary United Front (RUF), towards the politics …

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Words 76
Pages 1
Company Aytch: A Confederate Memoir of the Civil War

Writing Assignment : Company Aytch History 101/ Company Aytch is a book that depicts the idealistic memory of a young confederate of the Civil War named Sam Watkins. Some historians articulate towards Watkins having insufficiency of precise facts and sometimes alteration or exaggeration on certain …

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Words 1168
Pages 5
Why Did the South Lose the Civil War

Why did the South Lose the Civil War? Beginning as a battle of army versus army, the war became a conflict of society against society. In this kind of war, the ability to mobilize economic resources, the effectiveness of political leadership, and a society’s willingness …

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Words 681
Pages 3
In What Way the African Americans Shaped the Course and Consequences of the Civil War

In what way the African Americans shaped the course and consequences of the Civil War? Confine your answer to the years from 1861 and 1870. Immediately after the election and inauguration of Abraham Lincoln, the newly-established Republican Party’s presidential nominee, eleven states of the South …

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Words 1014
Pages 4
Kate Chopin and Charles W. Chesnutt Wrote the Literary History for America Post-Civil War

The American Civil War drastically changed the society and culture of the United States. History books all tell the stories of the struggle by recently freed African American slaves. These books tell of the financial hardship, as well as the cultural endeavors these people had …

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Words 2520
Pages 10
Discuss the Political, Social, and Economic Impact of the Civil War on the US

The total number of military causalities on both sides exceeded 1 million. More men died in the Civil War than in all other American wars combined until Vietnam. However, the Civil War impacted the United States well beyond just deaths. The Civil war brought fundamental …

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American Civil War Research Paper

The deadliest war in American history is known as the American Civil War killing nearly 620,000 soldiers and a mass amount of civilians. The War Between the States was fought between Southern slave states and the United States federal government. Southern states formed a group …

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Courage in the Civil War (Referencing for Cause and Comrades by James M. Mcpherson

There is much controversy and uncertainty about the reasons of why the Civil War started, and why it went on for so long. The Civil War is unusual not only in American History, but in world history as well because of the intensity and carnage …

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Words 1242
Pages 5
The Civil War and Appalachia

Eric Lane English 1020 Tim Parker 11/9/12 The Civil War and Appalachian Geography Did Appalachian geography have an effect on the civil war? Every major war in history has two things in common: a winner and a loser. There are many factors of war that …

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Words 1443
Pages 6
Why Did Charles I Lose the Civil War

The English Civil War was 1642-1651 and was a series of battles and political conspiracies between Oliver Cromwell, the leader of Parliament and King Charles I the leader of the Royalists. The civil war set the supporters of King Charles I against the followers of …

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Words 484
Pages 2
Was the Civil War Fought over Slavery?

The Civil War was the bloodiest war in all of America’s history. But some things still remains a mystery in the Civil War. There were many reasons to how the Civil War was cause. A lot of people thinks that slavery was the cause,but it …

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Pages 1
Who Won the Civil War: North or South

For the south it was nearly impossible to win the war . The north had many advantageson the south, which created a large difference in the outcome of the Civil War. The North had a bigger population, better leadership, and Abraham Lincoln. Lincoln was a …

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Pages 2
Us Economy After the Civil War

MSS220 US Economy After the Civil War The north and the south both experienced a slight struggle after the Civil War concerning agriculture, commerce and the state of the economy. A southern newspaper out of Augustus County, The Staunton Spectator, offered several articles that gave …

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Words 474
Pages 2
Changes in Farming Post Civil War

Changes in Farming: Contributing factors in farming changes post Civil War After the Civil War there were many factors that contributed the changes that occurred in farming in America. Among them was the drive for the South to renew and regain what had been lost …

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Pages 6
Roles of Women in the American Civil War

The American Civil War was, as all wars are, affected not only by the men fighting on the battlefield, but by the women who served on the home front, in military hospitals, and occasionally next to men on the battlefield. Just as women influenced the …

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Words 2503
Pages 10
Comparison of Meditations in Time of Civil War

Yeats implies that ownership is futile as, with the inevitability of death, comes the inevitability that one day ownership will be lost when-as Yeats puts it-“the [master is] ride”. The fact that “mice can play’ once the “masters buried” brings together a new Idea of …

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Words 499
Pages 2
Civil War and Reconstruction

The America we know today is a very different place than the America this country once knew during the Reconstruction period. In today’s society everybody has equal rights and opportunities to do as they please. People today have a right to do basically anything there …

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Words 1194
Pages 5
Influence of Women on American History Through the Civil War

The Influence of Women on the Founding of America and Through 1877 Kelley Swatsenbarg Wayland Baptist University – San Antonio Center Mr. Thomas Gaj May 4, 2010 The Influence of Women on the Founding of America and Through 1877 Throughout the many years of history, …

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Dbq Essay Civil War

Carly Tucker 9 January, 2013 AP US History Mr. Barber Betweeen the years of 1860 and 1877 the united states went through the civil war and reconstruction era. Dramatic changes occurred during this time that brought about drastic constitutional and social development. The dramatic changes …

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Civil War Research Paper

Whatever the case maybe, there is no one reason why men and now woman enlist in their nation’s army when war is upon them. In analyzing the Civil War, many explanations exist why Southern men were willing to fight their own brothers and sisters of …

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Pages 7
Causes of the English Civil War

Causes of The English Civil War In this assessment I will be analysing the many causes and roots of the English Civil war which broke out in 1642. The English civil war was a long chain of conflict and rivalry, which was set between two …

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Civil War Dbq

Civil War DBQ Civil War DBQ As American settlers stretched westward in the 1850’s, the ambiguity of the Constitution framed 60 years earlier increased sectional tension over the topic of slavery. Initially, the framers of the constitution left the issue of slavery to be worked …

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Analyse the Pricipal Causes of the Spanish Civil War

Analyse the principal causes of the Spanish Civil War (1936-1939) Many historians have said that the Spanish Civil war was fuelled by political, economical, international ambitions and social conditions. The combat which was happening between socialism and fascism that dominated Europe, around the time of …

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Pages 4
Effects of Civil War on Women

There are several changes that the Civil War brought to civilian society and some of these are the following: First of all, the United States of America have been brought back together, which also means that the States from the Southern portions were not given …

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Pages 2
American Civil War was not just the war of ideology

According to fundamentalist historians the American Civil War was not just the war of ideology: freedom versus slavery. The more significant reason was the power struggle initiated between free states and slave states due to the economic and political implications of slavery. Why common people …

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Essay about American Civil War

The South States of the United States dependent upon agriculture as a source of foreign and domestic exchange and therefore held a negative feeling about abolition of slavery. Nevertheless in order to save the image of the constitution as a legal binding document that granted …

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American Civil War

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Find extra essay topics on Civil War Essay Examples by our writers.

The American Civil War was a civil war in the United States between the Union and the Confederacy. The central cause of the war was the status of slavery, especially the expansion of slavery into territories acquired as a result of the Louisiana Purchase and the Mexican–American War.
Location

United States, Southern United States, Atlantic Ocean , Western United States

President

Abraham Lincoln, Jefferson Davis

Dates

Apr 12, 1861 – Apr 9, 1865

Information

First battle: First Battle of Bull Run

Frequently asked questions

What was the Civil War short summary?
The American Civil War (1861-1865) was a conflict between the United States of America (USA) and the Confederate States of America (CSA) over the issue of slavery. The American Civil War began on April 12, 1861, when Confederate forces attacked a U.S. military installation at Fort Sumter in South Carolina. The United States responded by declaring war on the Confederacy. The American Civil War ended on April 9, 1865, when Confederate General Robert E. Lee surrendered at Appomattox Court House in Virginia.
What caused the Civil War short essay?
One of the most significant was the issue of slavery and states’ rights. In the early 1800s, the United States experienced a massive wave of immigration, which led to a rapid increase in population and a corresponding increase in the number of slave states vs. free states. This imbalance in the number of states led to a power struggle between the North and the South, with the South feeling increasingly threatened by the North’s growing power.Another major factor that contributed to the Civil War was the economic divide between the North and the South. The North was largely industrialized, while the South was primarily agricultural. This led to a lot of tension between the two regions, as the South felt that the North was exploiting them economically.Finally, the election of Abraham Lincoln in 1860 was a major contributing factor to the outbreak of the Civil War. Lincoln was a staunch opponent of slavery, and his election led to a lot of fear and anxiety among slaveholders in the South. This, combined with the other factors mentioned above, led to the outbreak of the Civil War in 1861.
What are the 3 main reasons for the Civil War?
The three main reasons for the Civil War were slavery, states’ rights, and the election of Abraham Lincoln. Slavery was the most divisive issue in America for decades. States’ rights was another controversial issue. The election of Abraham Lincoln in 1860 was the final straw for the Southern states. They felt that he would take away their way of life and that he would abolish slavery.
How do you start a war essay?
There are many different ways to approach writing a war essay. However, some tips on how to start a war essay include:1. Choose your focus. What aspect of war do you want to write about? This could be a specific war, such as the First or Second World War, or it could be a more general exploration of the causes and effects of war.2. Research your topic. Once you have decided on your focus, it is important to do some research to gain a better understanding of the subject matter. This could include reading books, articles, and other primary and secondary sources.3. Develop a thesis. A thesis is a central argument or claim that you will be making in your essay. Everything else in your paper should support this thesis.4. Outline your essay. Once you have a thesis and have done your research, it is helpful to create an outline for your essay. This will give you a roadmap to follow as you write, and will help to keep your argument focused.5. Write your essay. After you have your outline, you are ready to start writing your war essay. Remember to support your thesis with evidence from your research, and to structure your paper in a clear and logical manner.6. Edit and proofread your essay. Before you submit your essay, it is important to edit and proofread it to ensure that it is free of errors. This will help to make sure that your argument is clear and convincing.

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