The Civil War was very stressful for people during this time period but also very positive in many ways, it completely destroyed the land and took many years to reconstruct, it gave people new freedoms by ending slavery, and lastly, it also took many lives of soldiers and reshaped the role of women. It was time for a positive change in the South and a change of old ways. Leaders came together to make reconstruction happen and to change the way people were living. People worked together and adjusted to the new way of living life.
Times were very tough for people after the Civil War, but a major part of this was the damage that had been done to the property. During the battles, many places such as South Carolina, Georgia, Virginia, and Columbia were completely destroyed and people were left with hardly anything. Most of the livestock was found dead in the South, along with bodies as a result of the war. It took several years to repair the damage. Many people were homeless, plantations were destroyed, and left with little or no money. Some people were kind enough to come together to donate from their own wealth which was around $3 billion. This money was used to help restore the damage. According to a website it states, “Yet this wealth obscured the gains in infrastructure, industrial production, and financial markets that occurred north of the mason dixon line…” Reconstruction rebuilt new houses for enslaved people and people who had lost their homes and belongings. They built new railroads and bridges so people could transport merchandise and people easier, which helped jumpstart the economy.
At the end of the Civil War, African Americans were promised freedom as well as 40 acres of land and a mule. They were allowed to work. This allowed them to feed their families the best they could. African Americans slowly started their journey toward equal rights and sometimes were treated more fairly. Getting fair pay enabled them to get food and other necessary items for their families. On a website, it states “ African American males worked as hotel workers, lumber and log mill rollers, and rail workers.” They were getting jobs that normally a white person would have during this time period. New employment opportunities were being opened daily for African Americans. Instead of being slaves on the farm some became laborers and received pay for their work. African Americans were allowed to choose where they wanted to work and how they wanted to work. Some were no longer subject to working on the Plantations for white men.
Another impact of the civil war was that African American males were given the privilege to vote. The fifteen Amendment was established in 1870 giving all men the legal right to vote regardless of race, color, and religion. According to a website “ prohibited states from denying a male citizen the right to vote based on color, race, or previous condition of servitude.” Although voting was still a struggle for African Americans this was the start for them to have a political opinions and voice their opinions.
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On a website, it states “On January 1, 1863, Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation, which freed the slaves in the area of the country that shall be in rebellion against the United States. “ This Proclamation laid the groundwork and was the beginning of freedom for slaves across the Country. Although African Americans still faced opposition, with some people not wanting them to have rights this was paving the way to getting greater freedom. The Fifteen Amendment and the Emancipation Proclamation was huge stepping stone for equality and freedom for African American men.
The civil war helped create a movement for a good cause. The Thirteenth Amendment of the Consitution of the U.S. abolished slavery. Whereas the Fourteenth Amendment was “established to grant citizenship to everyone born or naturalized in the U.S,” “thereby granting citizenship to formerly enslaved people.” Giving citizenship to African Americans let them better opportunities and rights similar to all men. With the new rights and freedoms for enslaved men and women, doors were finally opening. Even though some faced resistance and adversity, the movement started. A website stated, “Freedmen's Bureau, established by Congress in 1865, assisted the former slaves by giving them food and finding jobs, as long as homes for them.” “The bureau established hospitals and schools, including such institutions of higher learning as Fisk University and Hampton Institute.” “Northern philanthropic agencies, such as the American missionary association also aided the freedmen.” Education was essential to helping men and women begin their new lives with the chance to better themselves.
Many people lost their lives during and after the Civil War which had a great impact on families. Multiple children were left without fathers and wives were left without husbands. Men never made it home and those that did come home carried sickness or needed care. Lots of soldiers came home with missing limbs and very bad diseases that killed them off very soon. On a website, it states “ roughly 2% of the population, an estimated 620,000 men, lost their lives in the line of duty.” All these families were hurt badly, the women had to run businesses and farms to keep their families alive. Women were forced to take the role of the husband while caring for their disabled or sick sons and husbands.
After the civil war women's rights became a big focus too. After taking on the same jobs and roles as the males, women wanted the same rights as men. Women wanted the right to vote and have a political opinion. Women took on a lot of roles during the war such as mother, father, and caretaker for their children. Some of the women were even found on the battleground. They also had to take on the role of working out in the fields in addition to their own daily chores. Women planted food and tended the fields. They did this to help their families survive. Showing that women could do the same as men if not more. On a website it states “The war had given women a chance to control their own lives, to earn their own money, to manage their own finances, to be independent.” Women proved they could do the same work as men and some were even better at it. The Civil War began the beginning of the journey for women to vote and work for wages.
Overall, the impact of the Civil War was very positive. The Civil War, although deadly and disastrous, began a movement for slaves and women for freedom and rights. Slaves became paid workers, men were given the right to vote, slaves became free, and women showed they were capable of so much more than being a wife and mothers. Even though the road at the end of the Civil War was not an easy one, it began the process of freedom and rights for slaves and women. Reconstruction was a slow process but eventually, people came together to rebuild the South.
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