University:
Arizona State University
Course:
HST 200 | Historical Themes
Academic year:

2024
Views:

247

Pages:

2
Author:

Thuyoul US

ASU HST 200 (Historical Themes) The Civil War, 1860–1865 Introduction of Early Mobilization and War The American Civil War, which lasted from 1860 to 1865, is still regarded as one of the most important and destructive moments in the country's history. The country was on the verge of a bloody and lengthy struggle as tensions between the Northern and Southern states increased over topics like slavery, abolitionism, and territorial ambition. Before the conflict, there was a fierce eagerness for combat on both sides. As the war approached in 1861, President Abraham Lincoln vowed to uphold the Union at all costs and made it plain that it would not be abolished while he was in office. Eleven Southern states made up the Confederacy, which was equally determined to declare its independence from the US, in the meantime. The acrimonious question of slavery, which the South staunchly defended while the North progressively allied itself with the abolitionist movement, was certainly the main cause of the conflict. But other elements, including the spread of the west and regional economic inequality, were also important in fanning the fires of violence. The call to arms was enthusiastically embraced by both Northerners and Southerners, who thought victory would come quickly as the opening shots were fired and the battle lines were established. But these sanguine hopes would soon be dashed by the realities of war. Although the North was thought to have an advantage over the South in terms of labor, supplies, and manufacturing, the Confederate armies were strong rivals, and the early phases of the war showed a surprisingly high degree of military equality between the two sides. The idealized ideas of honor and grandeur soon gave way to the harsh realities of fighting as the conflict went on. The ensuing terrible brutality and destruction destroyed the once-idealized view of war as a noble enterprise. The actual horrors of war were brutally visible to both Northern and Southern civilians, from the blood-soaked fields of combat to the improvised hospitals crowded with injured and dying troops. The Civil War had an incredible toll on human life throughout its duration, leaving hundreds of thousands of troops and civilians dead and innumerable others injured or traumatized. The hopeful expectations of an immediate and definitive triumph gave way to a sobering realization of how deadly and lengthy the war would be. In fact, the war was perceived as a brutal test of fortitude and resiliency for both sides as the years passed and the number of casualties rose. In conclusion, the start of a terrifying chapter in American history was signaled by the early mobilization and start of the Civil War in 1861. What started out as a passionate fight for independence and national unification quickly turned into a bloody war that lasted for many years and left a lasting impression on the country and its citizens.