Causes and consequences of the American Civil War Effect and Cause of America Civil war

Causes of the American Civil War | American Civil War

The tradition of struggle was ancient in the northern and southern states of America. In 1787, differences arose between the federal and republican sections. The economic values of the 19th century also increased this difference. The differences in federal politics were particularly influential from the 1820s to the 1830s. For the first time in 1820 AD, the question of slavery became a matter of bitter dispute between North and South. As a result, the Missouri Compromise was made. Although the agreement kept slavery out of the Northwest, it was a victory for the South at the time. Then came the question of Texas joining the Union. The South wanted to integrate it into the Union. But Uttar opposed it. Texas eventually joined the Union as a slave state. After this, the Mexican War contributed to increasing the gap between North and South. Its purpose was to get slave territory. The people of California wanted their state to be made an independent state. It was made an independent state by an agreement of 1850 AD. But after 1848, the political condition started being determined on the basis of these. Hence this conflict came to the fore in the form of Civil War in America. The following were the main reasons for this civil war-

1. Economic inequality – Economic inequality existed between the northern and southern states of America from the very beginning. In 1861, North America was in a much better condition than the South. Due to economic disparity, there was a huge difference in economic life philosophy, political ideology and social level of northern and southern states, and to end this difference, Abraham Lincoln participated in the civil war and worked to strengthen the federal system.

2. Slavery - Although slavery was a moral question for the northern states. But especially for the people of South it was a question of economic interest. That's why they were so sensitive about it. The conflict over slavery was very old, so it can be considered as both a direct and indirect cause of the civil war.

3. Mistakes of the slave owners - The biggest mistake of the slave owners was that they started the war in an attempt to break the union. It was a misadventure that proved to be an unfortunate mistake.

4. Climate of Fear by Political Propaganda – The Southern states had created fear among the opponents of slavery that the historical labor system of the South would be destroyed by the North. Much of the criticism of the Southerners by the leaders of the northern states was selfish, impractical and derogatory. As a result, an atmosphere of fear, hatred and anger was created among the Southerners. On the other hand, due to the efforts being made by the Southerners to spread slavery, even a person like Lincoln in the North feared that. Lest slavery spread in the whole country. Lincoln termed slavery as a morally, socially and politically defective institution. By demystifying the question of morality, Douglas recognized the Freeport principle, according to which the question of slavery was under the provincial constitution. This theory created an atmosphere of criticism in the South and necessitated the Civil War.

5. Failure of settlement efforts - Separation of the seven states of the South from the Union was a formidable problem for the existence of the United States. The makers of the American constitution did not clearly give any state the right to secede from the union. Because they wanted to keep it. Several meetings were held in New York, Boston and Philadelphia to negotiate a settlement. Compromising sentiments were expressed in these. But all attempts at compromise were unsuccessful and civil war could not be avoided due to the anti-confederate attitudes of the southern states.

American Civil War (1861–1865)

Beginning of the Civil War - On April 12, 1861, when Southern Carolima started a war against the Union by bombarding Sumter's fort, it became necessary for Lincoln to protect the disintegrated Union by armed intervention. In making an armed intervention, he had a doubt that if he acted rashly, it was possible that the remaining eight pro-slavery states might ally with the South Union. He did not even get help from his cabinet to reach a final decision. Ultimately, on April 6, 1861, Lincoln issued an order to send reinforcement troops to the forts of Pickens and Sumter. On April 15, 1861 AD, he deployed an army of 75 thousand citizens to enforce the law of the union and ordered blockade of the coasts of the confederation. Very few could have imagined the ferocity and seriousness of the struggle ahead. Therefore, it became necessary for the eight independent states to take sides of one or the other. Four states—Virginia, North Carolina, Tennessee, and Kansas—decided to join the Southern Union, and the remaining four states—Maryland, Delaware, Kentucky, and Missouri—remained with the old Union. The capital of the Confederacy was moved from Montgomery to Richmond. It was only 100 miles away from Washington. This war of North and South America started on 12 April 1861 AD and ended on 26 May 1865 AD. In the history of America, this civil war is written by two names. It was called the Great Rebellion in the northern states and the War of the States in the southern states. We will write it here by the name of Civil War because it was a domestic war of the United States of America.

Attitude of other states of Europe at the time of home state-

At the beginning of the war, the governing class of England and France was with the Confederation, but the public opinion of these countries was divided on this question. Most people saw it as a struggle between slavery and freedom and sympathized with the North. The states of the South expected that England and France would have to support the confederacy because of the receipt of cotton. Although the British cotton mills were in trouble due to the blockade of the southern states, public sentiments supported the north. Incidents of Trent scandal and Alabama also created differences between England and the federal states, but this difference soon went away. This is where the question arises as to why England did not extend its hand to help the Southern Confederation despite favorable conditions. There can be two answers to this. Firstly, both the north and the south asked for help from England. How could the government take any decisive step without thinking. Secondly, at this time signs of some upheaval were also visible in Europe. Czar Alexander II had freed the serfs (slave-cultivators). (1861 AD) and also assured assistance for his land and building. In Italy too, the constitutional monarchy was established in this year. After the death of Frederick William IV in France, William I became the ruler. Bismarck, the shrewd player of the monarchy, was its right hand. Napoleon III was also ambitious in France, in such a situation the question before England was whether it would be wise for her to get involved in the quarrels of a distant country. In such a situation, England thought it best to remain neutral. It is true that the policy of the siege of the North did cause some damage to the trade of England, but it was not to such an extent that it would resist it and buy a war for it.

At the time of the Civil War, the southern states wanted that this war would be helpful if they received foreign aid and recognition. These states wanted England and France to break the blockade and prepare for mediation. The northern states believed that if there was external intervention, it would defeat the south. Therefore, he tried to prevent other countries from recognizing the South. There was a special proposal of England and France in the civil war. Both these countries had fought against Russia in the Crimean War and they had also accepted this through a treaty. That the point of view of England would be accepted on questions relating to the United States. At this time Russia, the third power of Europe, had supported North America, so the situation in the South became pathetic.

In this way, despite having so many disparities between the two rivals, this war continued for four years. President Lincoln was the supreme director of the Union's military organization for the first three years of the war. Right from the beginning, he made the main goal of his forces not to control the southern region, but to destroy the forces of the confederation. In 1864, U. S. Grant was made the chief commander. The military leadership of the Confederacy of the Southern States initially rested in the hands of capable generals, who can be called the most capable military officers of the United States. The most important name among these is Robert E. Lee. Who was Apart from this, Jackson, Albert Johnston, George Brown, etc. also did the work of operation.

Various Fronts of the War and the Defeat of the South - On April 12, 1861, South Carolina initiated the Civil War by bombarding the Federal Arsenal at Sumter Fort under the control of the army of the Northern States. Four fronts of the war are particularly noteworthy—the seas, the Mississippi Valley, Virginia and the East Coast states, and the diplomatic region. At the beginning of the war, the navy of about 40 ships was in the hands of the Union, but it was scattered. Gideon Wells, the able Minister of the Navy quickly reorganized it and made it powerful. When Lincoln announced the siege of the southern beach, this siege was completed in 1863 AD even though it was very weak in the beginning. Till then became very effective. Due to this, the export of cotton from the southern states to Europe stopped and the import of much needed ammunition, clothes and medicine for them also stopped.

Sea Beach David G. A brilliant admiral named Farragut also emerged and led two distinguished attacks. In the first campaign, he took the Northern Fleet inside the mouth of the Mississippi River and forced New Orleans to surrender by crossing two strong forts. In the second campaign, he crossed the fortified entrance of Mobile Bay, captured an armored ship from the south and closed the port. In 1862, the army of the North also destroyed ships named Merrimank and Alabama in the South. In this way, the North got complete success on the sea, due to which the people of the South were deprived of foreign aid.

In the Mississippi Valley, the Union forces often won several consecutive victories. Early in the war, they broke the South's long line of defense in Tennessee, and thus almost all of the western part of the state was easily captured. After taking the important port of Memphis on the Mississippi, Union forces advanced 200 miles into the interior of the Confederacy. In 1863, Northern Army Chief U.S. Grant got another important success. He moved downstream to besiege Vicksburg and besiege Confederate forces for six weeks. On July 4, Northern forces captured the city of Vicksburg, the strongest western fort in the South. On the occasion of this victory, Lincoln had said, 'Our Mahanadi is now going to meet the sea uninterruptedly'. After this, the South was divided into two parts and it was almost impossible to bring supplies to the eastern states from the territories called Texas and Arkansas across the river.

Meanwhile, on January 1, 1863, a remarkable incident happened. President Lincoln announced his famous 'Emancipation Proclamation'. According to which all the slaves were freed and they were invited to join the national armies. About 150,000 Negro slaves enlisted in the northern army. The people of South considered this announcement as important and freed the slaves by being forced by wartime circumstances. In this way, the whole nation was freed from slavery and one of the objectives of the war was fulfilled.

In early 1864, Grant was sent to the East. He defeated Lee's forces in several battles. Now the end of the war was clearly visible. Northern armies won in the battles of Pennsylvania, Vicksburg, Atlanta. Finally, on April 9, 1865, Lee, the commander of the forces of the South, surrendered to Grant. On April 26, Johnson surrendered to Sherman, and with this the Civil War ended.

Effects and Consequences of the Civil War

The Civil War marked a new era and chapter in the history of America. In American history, this fraternal war, where on the one hand introduced conflict and destruction, on the other hand this conflict increased the social, political and economic values of America. The following were the main causes and consequences of the civil war-

1. This struggle strengthened the political and administrative centers of America.

2. The 14th and 15th Amendments to the Constitution do not bar freed slaves from voting rights to any citizen of America on grounds of race, color or absolute subordination.

3. Sufficient money was spent on both the sides in this war. Not only this, millions of people of this war became physically useless forever.

4. The civil war created a feeling of hatred between the states of the North and the South.

5. A new industrial civilization was born in the United States after the Civil War. Old industries were destroyed, new industries were established, the number of cities increased and trade and commerce spread.

6. The greatest achievement of the Civil War in the social field was the abolition of slavery. Although Lincoln had announced the end of slavery from January 1, 1863, but it could be implemented only after the Civil War. Lakhs of slaves of the country were made free but due to this their social and economic condition became pathetic.

7. Due to industrial revolution and technological development, rural areas were transformed into urban areas.

In this way, the American Civil War prepared the basis for economic, social and political reconstruction there.