American Civil War and Sectionalism

General Ulysses S. Grant's brilliant siege of Vicksburg had a significant impact on the surrender of the Confederacy. This Vicksburg campaign was significant due to the fact that it basically gave the Union total control of the Mississippi River. This meant the isolation of the West and basically a clear waterway for supplies to reach the Deep South. Once this waterway was open arms, food, and soldiers could be provided for the Union soldiers in the South and open a devastating wound in the heart of the Confederacy. Once Vicksburg had been taken the West would basically be isolated and under the Unions control; in addition Grant could focus on the heart of the South. Once Vicksburg was captured, and Grant advanced

Sectionalism was ultimately the main cause of the civil war. Sectionalism is occurs when an individual identifies with a geographic section of the United States based on their culture, social, economical, and political interests of that section. Sectionalism eventually caused the division of the nation, and created parts of the nation, which were the Union and the Confederation. As the tensions progressed, the government strived to unite the divided nation by establishing different legislation to satisfy each section; however, multiple historical events, such as the Election of Abraham Lincoln, the passing of the Kansas Nebraska Act, etc, interrupted the balancing act within the divided nation. The tensions between these sections eventually built up and caused the Civil War to occur. The Civil War was caused by the various economical differences within the nation, the conflict between the legality of slavery, and the political disputes in Congress over issues during that time.

After taking charge Ulysses S. Grant became really mad he went crazy he was going take over and destroy the south. ‘’Grant then opened up the cracker line, to bring supplies to the beleaguered army of the Cumberland.’’ Grant went crazy he was ready to launch an attack.’’ On November 24, Grant launched an attack on lookout mountainn and then captured it after six hours of fighting!’’ The battles went on and on. Grant wanted this battle over fast so the nexted day he ordered Sherman to attack tunnel hill. But the last time Sherman was ordered to lead the troops in an initial attack was a failure.’’ A second attack managed to completely break the center of the confederate line. After that victory it was grants third in three days. Then, all of a sudden it opened the Deep South to a union invasion. At the end with the success of Grants victories it also led the union to a great victory (Civilwar.org).

Slavery was a complicated issue for Northern whites. As pointed out by historian Kevin M. Schultz (2011), Northerners were generally in agreement that slavery was wrong, yet they were very uneasy with the idea of creating a large, free black population in the U.S. The Emancipation Proclamation of 1863 was a step toward that idea. The Proclamation did not free all slaves, since the border states of Missouri, Kentucky, Maryland and Delaware were exempted, as were Tennessee and areas of Virginia and Louisiana already under Union occupation (Schultz, 2011, p. 265). An important provision, however, was that black Americans would now be allowed to join the military. In the two years following the Emancipation Proclamation, 180,000 black men enlisted (Schultz, p. 265). They were poorly treated but eager to fight for a cause in which they had a high stake. Their numbers and their passion for the cause made African-American soldiers a powerful asset to the Union.

The Civil War was one of America’s most brutal battles in history. Majority of which being white, male soldiers. Over the years, many historians have argued the actual involvement of blacks during the civil war era. Many claiming that they were doing nothing more than assisting the actual, white soldiers in combat such as, nurses, and wagon drivers, not actually picking up the gun and shooting alongside in battle. Most people look over the fact that almost ten percent, or 180,000, of the Union army were African American. Though a small fraction of the amount of total soldiers during the war, their involvement is still significant. These soldiers recruited and voluntarily, committing the same acts of bravery of any Caucasian solider, due to the prejudice against them, they were pushed to the back burner and treated with disrespect, virtually diminishing their extensive courageous acts. Nevertheless these soldiers made an impact in world changing war.

Everything in history seems to lead to something else. The Civil War was no exception. It started with the creation of parties. Thomas Jefferson started the Anti-Federalist Party that would eventually evolve into Andrew Jackson’s Democratic Party. Policies were issued and the two party system started to collapse and sectionalism started to rise. Instead of Democrat versus Whig, it was North Versus South. Neither side could agree on any issues even when compromises were issued neither side really liked the terms. Every act lead to an argument and every argument led to a compromise which would only last for a few years. Eventually the South was tired of not getting their way and seceded from the Union. The underlying cause to the Civil War

African Americans were very questionable at first in the Civil War. The Union Navy had been already been accepting African American volunteers. Frederick Douglass thought that the military would help the African Americans have equal rights if they fought with them. Many children helped in the Civil War also, no matter how old they were. Because the African Americans were unfavorable, black units were not used in combat as they might have been. Nevertheless, the African Americans fought in numerous battles. African Americans fought gallantly. Northern leaders also saw another reason to have African Americans in the Civil War is that the Union needed soldiers. Congress aloud them to enlist them because they thought they might as well have

The Northern and Southern armies had very different views of African Americans military service in the Civil War. One way that we know this is by looking at two recruitment posters.

Democracy, lead to an extreme sense of individualism within each state. This idea of individualism throughout the states ultimately led to the secession of the southern states due to their individual right to institutionalize slavery within their own. The southern states planned to expand the institutionalization of slavery through manifest destiny as America as a country continued to expand west, especially in newly acquired territories such as California. As the story goes, the southern states decided to succeed from the American Union thus creating the beginning of the civil war thus separating the country entirely.

Black soldiers suffered racism treatment from their white officers. They had the men to turn away because of the federal law, saying banned negroes from fighting in the war. African American played a significant role in the civil war by serving in the union and the confederate sides, they helped the union defeat the south. 1/3 of all African Americans who enlisted lost their lives. In spite of their many hardships African Americans soldiers served the Union Army well and distinguished themselves in may battles. African American were important to the Army and to the Navy, by helping them fight of what they believe was the right thing, even though most blacks were mistreated and dealt with racism they still helped out the Union. More than 9,000 black seamen in the U.S. navy added to the union’s strength as did thousands of others who served in the military support position. The federal program admitted about black soldiers during the civil war was not without precedent or resistance. African American soldiers had taken part in the country’s defense since the revolutionary war and the war of

Before the civil war Abraham Lincoln said that a house divided against itself cannot stand. By this he said the United States needed to remain united. Because in order for the United States to exist as a nation we needed to be united. Lincoln was reacting to the many conflicts dividing the nation. These divisions are called sectionalism.

The North and South were very diverse, this led to problems with sectionalism. They started to separate economically, socially, and politically. The North had an industrious society v.s. the South which was agriculturally built on slaves(Doc3). The North was also Democratic while the South was mostly Republican, also, the North believed in a strong federal government, and South believe in states rights. These problems in sectionalism led to the Civil War.

The Civil War began in April of 1861 and came to an end in 1865. It was a U.S war fought between the Northern and Southern States. Although there were various controversial differences, there wasn’t only one reason that pushed the outbreak of war. What caused the Civil War? The United States was divided by geographical lines, modernization, and slavery.

I am an African American and I want to give my perspective on how I think about events involved with the Civil War. My perspective on the Confederate States of America is that it is a lot of Southern States eleven to be exact. The Confederate States seceded from the Union and that’s what started the civil war. The war had a big effect on us they wounded about three million slaves. My perspective on African Americans serving in the army is not really good back because they just want to use us and if one of us dies the whites wouldn’t care. They basically treat us like slaves making us work in the army fighting their battle.

Sectional conflict between the North and South was the very platform of the birth of the Civil War. Slavery was a prominent dispute that played a large role in the differences throughout the U.S. at this time, but there were other causes as well including economic and social differences and the election of Abraham Lincoln. In the midst of various events in the 1850s, it was the southern secession that began the true separation of the Union and the Confederacy, which showed the reality and quickness of the arrival of the Civil War in the United States.