Slavery was a very big problem in the 19th century but not the whole country liked it. For example, the North disliked it and the South loved it. During the 19th century, it was not easy being a slave because of the Civil War, the reconstruction, and the transformation of slavery.
African Americans served in the civil war on both sides but it was much worse for those of them in the South. For example, most of them were forced to sign up to fight in the war. In the North, they were encouraged to sign up and fight for their freedom and to support the North's decision to not allow slavery. Frederick Douglass also encouraged free black men to volunteer so they could ensure their full citizenship. Now in the South, this was a very different story. Most African Americans in the South where slaves owned by someone or they did labor work during the war. For example, working as nurses, cooks, and blacksmiths. Most of them had those jobs to help with the war but also to keep the troops safe during the war. In conclusion, slave lives were not that great during the Civil War because they had to do labor work or work to keep the soldiers safe.
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After the Civil War, the United States went into a reconstruction to fix race, rights, and power. For example, the Confederate states refused to go back to the Union. The South still did not agree with joining the union but after the war, the South was destroyed and they needed help. Abraham Lincoln offered that they could join the union only if they made slavery illegal and freed the slaves. The North still wanted the South to be punished for leaving the Union but as time went on, the North wanted to forgive them so they could just become one nation again. The South agreed to Lincoln’s deal but they started to make laws where the blacks could not vote or go to school. This later changed with the Thirteenth Amendment. In conclusion, the South was destroyed during the Civil War and they needed help to rebuild so Lincoln offered them help to free the slaves.
Lastly, the transformation of slavery. Slavery changed big time after the Civil War. For example, the Thirteenth Amendment. The Thirteenth Amendment was an amendment made by Abraham Lincoln to abolish slavery and free the slaves from the South and the whole USA. Slaves were now legally allowed to have freedom but they still couldn’t do everything, especially in the South. The South passed state laws that stated they couldn’t do everything the white people could. For example, couldn’t go to school together. Another transformation after the Civil War was city growth. After the war, many cities grew in population because people wanted to get out of the Confederate states and start a new life in the North. In conclusion, life had a big transformation after the war because of the Thirteenth Amendment and cities getting bigger.
In conclusion, the Civil War had a big impact on the USA and it shaped it to become a better country. For example, after the war, we freed the slaves to make a better country and make it the land of the free. During the 19th century, it was not easy being a slave because of the Civil War, the reconstruction, and the transformation of slavery.
Work Cited
- Reconstruction: Change and Continuity in Daily Life, www.crt.state.la.us/louisiana-state-museum/online-exhibits/the-cabildo/reconstruction-change-and-continuity-in-daily-life/index.
- “Reconstruction and Repression, 1865-1900.” National Parks Service, U.S. Department of the Interior, www.nps.gov/subjects/civilrights/reconstructionandrepression.htm.
- “Revolutionary Changes and Limitations: Slavery.” Ushistory.org, Independence Hall Association, www.ushistory.org/us/13d.asp.
- Thomas, et al. “The African American Odyssey: A Quest for Full Citizenship Reconstruction and Its Aftermath.” Reconstruction and Its Aftermath - The African American Odyssey: A Quest for Full Citizenship | Exhibitions (Library of Congress), 9 Feb. 1998, www.loc.gov/exhibits/african-american-odyssey/reconstruction.html.
- History.com Editors. “Reconstruction.” History.com, A&E Television Networks, 29 Oct. 2009, www.history.com/topics/american-civil-war/reconstruction.
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