The Civil War, Emancipation and Reconstruction
During the American civil war, emancipation was an important issue. The African Americans in the northern states were convinced that emancipation was the central issue at the beginning of the war. Obviously, the American society was not any different from other societies in the world which were constructed with the European ideas. They were involved in international trade, enslavement of Africans and conquering of lands. This was as a result of the changes in the society due to influence by large number of immigrants especially from Europe (Ayers, 2010).
Slavery was one of the most powerful global phenomenons in the 19th century. While colonialists from Europe came to America and after some times left, slavery continued to grow. In the second half of the 19th century, the slave powers in the southern states had attained a central role not only in the American affairs but also globally. During this time, cotton had become the most important commodity in the world which was produced in the southern states by use of slave labor. Slavery and slave trade become important phenomenon especially to the southern states (Ayers, 2010).
While the rest of the world including the northern states stopped slave trade and slavery in the 19th century, slavery seemed to be permanent in the southern states. Many of the slaves escaped from their masters and sought refuge and freedom in the northern states. Moreover, the northern states and the southern states were both eager to extend their influence in American land. As the American societies interacted with the rest of the world through trade, the idea of justice and equity for all was born among the Americans in the northern states. These ideas placed the southern states at an anomalous state when compared to the rest of the world. The increased demand for freedom by the slaves and activists resulted into a conflict between the traditions of the society where the slaves were expected to be subordinate to their masters and justice. Other countries including the European colonies had dismantled slavery in their colonies while the southern states remained out of the ordinary (Ayers, 2010).
Although, the southern powers tried to reverse the trend that risked their slave power by seeking assistance from allies in England, it seemed that freedom was inevitable in the new society. The southern powers were considered inhumane, cruel, backward and power hungry by majority of the Americans which gave credence to the northern powers. The southern powers received another blow when the idea of freedom took a political force with the main party, the Republican Party supporting the idea (Ayers, 2010).
In the 1860s presidential elections, the Republican Party campaigned against the expansion of the slave powers northwards. The Republicans were led by Abraham Lincoln who won the elections due to the support by proponents of freedom for all slaves. This was followed by increased hostility between the northern states and the southern states. The rival allies started raising armies when it became clear that war was inevitable. When President Lincoln proclaimed emancipation which overruled slavery in the southern states, slavery became the center of the war. Although the confederation army won several battles especially in the east, they were unable to advance northwards. The union army on the other hand continued gaining control over the more land which led to the collapse of the confederation in 1865 (Guelzo, 2004).
The proclamation of emancipation was a big gust to the southern states that relied on slave labor in the production of cotton. This weakened the southern powers and consequently the confederation army which led to it defeats. The emancipation led to the thirteenth amendment of the United States constitution which made all forms of slavery illegal. This amendment was later followed by the 14th amendment and the 15th amendment which granted African Americans United States citizenship and the right to vote respectively (William, 2001).
After the confederation army was defeated by the union army in the civil war, the African Americans in the south who were previously slaves started progressing. This period of progression is commonly known as the reconstruction period. The African Americans in the southern states were protected by the union troops and many progresses in the promotion of equality were achieved where the African Americans men started participating in politics. The African American children increasingly accessed quality education in public schools. African Americans established their businesses, churches and towns while many others migrated to Mississippi where they established their own farms. By the end of the nineteenth century, more than sixty percent of the lands in Mississippi especially in the Mississippi delta were owned by African Americans (Guelzo, 2004).
In conclusion, the emancipation was a major issue during the American civil war in the 19th century. The southern states supported slavery while the northern states opposed slavery and provided refuge for runaway slaves. The reconstruction and the aftermath of the American civil war and emancipation are considered to have played the important role in the national identity formation of African American society.
Slavery was one of the most powerful global phenomenons in the 19th century. While colonialists from Europe came to America and after some times left, slavery continued to grow. In the second half of the 19th century, the slave powers in the southern states had attained a central role not only in the American affairs but also globally. During this time, cotton had become the most important commodity in the world which was produced in the southern states by use of slave labor. Slavery and slave trade become important phenomenon especially to the southern states (Ayers, 2010).
While the rest of the world including the northern states stopped slave trade and slavery in the 19th century, slavery seemed to be permanent in the southern states. Many of the slaves escaped from their masters and sought refuge and freedom in the northern states. Moreover, the northern states and the southern states were both eager to extend their influence in American land. As the American societies interacted with the rest of the world through trade, the idea of justice and equity for all was born among the Americans in the northern states. These ideas placed the southern states at an anomalous state when compared to the rest of the world. The increased demand for freedom by the slaves and activists resulted into a conflict between the traditions of the society where the slaves were expected to be subordinate to their masters and justice. Other countries including the European colonies had dismantled slavery in their colonies while the southern states remained out of the ordinary (Ayers, 2010).
Although, the southern powers tried to reverse the trend that risked their slave power by seeking assistance from allies in England, it seemed that freedom was inevitable in the new society. The southern powers were considered inhumane, cruel, backward and power hungry by majority of the Americans which gave credence to the northern powers. The southern powers received another blow when the idea of freedom took a political force with the main party, the Republican Party supporting the idea (Ayers, 2010).
In the 1860s presidential elections, the Republican Party campaigned against the expansion of the slave powers northwards. The Republicans were led by Abraham Lincoln who won the elections due to the support by proponents of freedom for all slaves. This was followed by increased hostility between the northern states and the southern states. The rival allies started raising armies when it became clear that war was inevitable. When President Lincoln proclaimed emancipation which overruled slavery in the southern states, slavery became the center of the war. Although the confederation army won several battles especially in the east, they were unable to advance northwards. The union army on the other hand continued gaining control over the more land which led to the collapse of the confederation in 1865 (Guelzo, 2004).
The proclamation of emancipation was a big gust to the southern states that relied on slave labor in the production of cotton. This weakened the southern powers and consequently the confederation army which led to it defeats. The emancipation led to the thirteenth amendment of the United States constitution which made all forms of slavery illegal. This amendment was later followed by the 14th amendment and the 15th amendment which granted African Americans United States citizenship and the right to vote respectively (William, 2001).
After the confederation army was defeated by the union army in the civil war, the African Americans in the south who were previously slaves started progressing. This period of progression is commonly known as the reconstruction period. The African Americans in the southern states were protected by the union troops and many progresses in the promotion of equality were achieved where the African Americans men started participating in politics. The African American children increasingly accessed quality education in public schools. African Americans established their businesses, churches and towns while many others migrated to Mississippi where they established their own farms. By the end of the nineteenth century, more than sixty percent of the lands in Mississippi especially in the Mississippi delta were owned by African Americans (Guelzo, 2004).
In conclusion, the emancipation was a major issue during the American civil war in the 19th century. The southern states supported slavery while the northern states opposed slavery and provided refuge for runaway slaves. The reconstruction and the aftermath of the American civil war and emancipation are considered to have played the important role in the national identity formation of African American society.
Categories:
0 comments:
Post a Comment